* When brothers Robin and Joe Bennett hit upon the idea of a green alternative to their popular Truck music festival, it seemed like a crazy plan.

With stages powered by solar panels (and even bicycles), composting toilets (no nasty chemicals), wholesome workshops on foraging, weaving, wood turning and yoga, the food, drink – and most of the music – sourced locally, it was idealistic and ambitious.

Seven festivals on, Wood is back in the beechwoods of the Chilterns. And far from selling out on its sustainable principles, it has perfected them, acting as a model for other festivals itching to go greener.

This year’s Wood kicks off tomorrow (Friday), at Braziers Park, near Wallingford. Between then and Sunday night, it will play host to an impressive line-up of acts; all with an acoustic leaning.

They include soulful Americana act the Treetop Flyers, alternative folk act Tunng, Songhoy Blues, CC Smugglers, Spiro, Gill Sandell & Chris TT, Duotone, Josienne Clark and Ben Walkers, Thomas Truax, Nick Cope and the boys themselves, Robin and Joe with their country-rock band the Dreaming Spires.

More quality music comes from Mike Gale’s dream-country-pop act Co-Pilgrim (which includes Joe Bennett on lap-steel), country-bluegrass-folk collective the Knights of Mentis, Trevor Moss and Hannah Lou, West African khora player Jali Fily Cissokho, Brickwork Lizards, Cooling Pearls, Tamara Parsons-Baker and many others.

The workshops are back – including knot-tying and wormery making. There are also lots of children’s activities, ensuring the festival retains its crown as the county’s most family-friendly gathering.

“Wood is a magical clearing in the woods, where you can camp with your family, have a fantastic time and dream about a better world,” says Robin.

“We didn’t design the festival as a family-friendly thing. That just happened.”

Many of this year’s activities will take on a peculiarly apian quality, with the festival celebrating its own Year of the Bee.

Robin is encouraging festival-goers to enter his best dressed bee contest.

“Bees are central to life on the planet, but are under threat,” he said. “We want to remind people they are important and as worth saving as elephants.”

Tickets are £74 from woodfestival.com