EIGHT ancient festivals are being celebrated by a conservation woodland throughout 2018/ 19 with the first event launching next weekend.

The Celtic Wheel of the Year is a cycle of festivals celebrating days that mark a change in season, including solstices and equinoxes.

From next Friday (September 21 - 23), Hazel Hill Wood will be taking part in the festivities through to August next year.

Living with the Heartbeat of the Land is a program encouraging guests to come to the woodland site to learn about and enjoy changes in the seasons and nature.

Mabon will be the first of the eight ancient festivals, and the weekend entitled A Dance of Balance will be facilitated by yoga teacher Sian Lalita-Alcock, and coach/vision enabler, Daniel Koerner.

Sian said: “Mabon is a time of completion and celebrating in gratitude for all that we have harvested, the lessons we ́ve learned and the challenges we ́ve faced.

"As we complete the last stages of our harvesting and are truly with the energy of thanksgiving, we explore balance in our lives, dancing on the edge of the light and the dark in preparation for entering into the quieter phase of the year.”

As the year continues, Hazel Hill Wood will continue hosting events in celebration of the festivals, including Samhain in November, Yule in December, Imbolc in February, Spring Equinox in March, Beltane in May, Summer Solstice in June and Lammas in August.

For more information on events and how to book a place visit the Hazel Hill wood website.