The Festival programme will include the launch of a new brand identity for Knysna Timber – part of a campaign to help rebuild the local economy following the devastating fires that tore through the town in June, 2017 – as well as product demonstrations and trade and industry exhibitions in the Festival grounds at Timber Village on Welbedacht Lane.
The Festival will also include a half-day timber and forest industry conference, which will feature talks by local and international experts, as well as a presentation by Forestry South Africa on ‘The Future of Forestry in South Africa and the Garden Route.’
The festival is designed for the public and trade alike, and features a number of exciting, family-oriented jorls – including a live music concert, and (the kids’ll love this!) the newly relaunched Knysna Timber Sports Competition, during which teams from local forestry companies will show off their chainsaw and axemanship skills, as well as their physical strength and endurance.
For anyone looking to invest in the art of fine furniture, the Festival’s Masters & Makers Expo will highlight the high level of craftsmanship and creativity for which Knysna’s woodworkers have become renowned. (Masters & Makers will take place at the stylish, creative, and luxurious Entabeni Farm, a short distance from the festival grounds).
The Knysna Timber Festival is a project of the Knysna Timber Initiative, which will also launch its ‘Project Reforester’ during this year’s event.
Project Reforester is described as ‘Our free-range, grass-fed, politics-free plan to restore the environment and the economy of the Garden Route.’ It aims to influence local landowners to reforest 200,000 hectares of the region using various techniques of regenerative agro-forestry. (Search ‘Project Reforester’ on Facebook.)
The Knysna Timber Festival, 12 – 15 March, 2020: www.timberfestival.co.za
Source:Â www.timberfestival.co.za
