Last year I reported on this festival as a day tripper, and not as a camper. We were enamoured with it so much that we took the plunge to camp this year. Although it was a momentous mission to get from the entrance to where we eventually set up, it was worth it in the end, thanks in part to the kind weather. and the fact that this is a delightful, small scale, family-friendly affair set in Pippingford Park, a wooded and parkland estate set in-between Uckfield and East Grinstead.

Set up in 2012, it has, in true independent and organic fashion, grown to become a 5,000 capacity affair. Its popularity is such that it now sells out well in advance. Why? Because it's an expansive festival with lots of space, set in beautiful countryside, on a Bank Holiday weekend, and that is thoroughly geared towards families. Not only are there umpteen activities for kids (and adults), the atmosphere is very friendly. It's an environment to let your young ones roam free without worry. It has no corporate presence, and it's all very fairly priced; from the entry tickets to the food and drink on offer.

As well as the activites, story-telling/poetry tent, and late night DJ action, there are two stages, hosting an eclectic range of music. Many acts return year-on-year, are from the locality (London, Sussex, Brighton, Lewes etc), and many stay well beyond their time slot, to enjoy the festival in its entiretey.

There are no big names (a big reason why this festival is a success – the rarely told truth is that many festivals struggle because their artist bills are so huge), but the quality is generally high, and child-friendly. The biggest name here was The Magic Numbers, an act who have a long relationship with the festival, and who are based in the area. Their Saturday night headlining slot on the main stage was the musical highlight, and attracted by far the biggest crowd of the weekend, as they delivered an upbeat set of classics with some new songs. They are indeed working on a new album which will be out later in the year. They were joined on stage by festival regular Ben Ottewell – of Gomez fame – for a cover of Neil Young's 'Harvest Moon', and who had played a solo set earlier in the day performing a batch of songs from his new album.

Other highlights included a typically bouncy party fusion from Brighton's irrepressible Town of Cats, mixing up funk, ska, balkan and hip-hop; some tasty psychedelic-rock from the up-and-coming The Ferns, the elegant gypsy swing of Maniere des Bohemiens, the gentle acoustic folk of EdwardAlice, the country-rock of Luke Tuchscherer & The Penny Dreadfuls (including a rousing version of Neil Young's 'Down By The River'), the high energy folk-prog of Moulettes, and the well funky-soul of Soul Grenades.
Jeff Hemmings

Website: elderflowerfields.co.uk