Established by James Shepard in 1989 (who 'discovered' the area whilst out jogging on the Cranborne Chase) as a twelve-hour event the Wiltshire-based summer session soon gained itself a reputation for fun events and it wasn't long before it hosted its first Friday night gig with on-site camping.

Larmer Tree takes place on an 11-acre site which is home to a Victorian Pleasure Gardens which is owned by the grandson of the famous Egyptologist, General Pitt-Rivers. Macaws live among trees and Eastern artefacts brought back from North Africa where the pioneering archeologist carved out his career. The site itself has ancient origins with the original 'Larmer Tree' (a wych elm) rumoured to be the site where King John and his huntsmen would assemble before hunting on the Cranborne Chase. Sadly, the 600-year-old tree was blown down in 1894, 14 years after old General Pitt-Rivers had established the Victorian gardens. The site attracted a varied bunch and the writer Thomas Hardy was impressed enough to declare: "this is the prettiest sight I ever saw in my life".

Pitt-Rivers' grandson now rents the land out for the yearly arts-based bash which annually attracts 2,000 people (ticket numbers are now strictly limited to protect the intimate atmosphere). Co-Director Julia Safe (who came on board in 1993) points to Bracknell Jazz Festival in the 1970s and the international flavours of Womad as the inspiration for the summer event. With growing numbers involved at all levels the festival has become an organisational juggling act with several companies now being hired in to run various aspects of the festival: generators, toilets, showers, marquees and recycling.

The line up continues to change reflecting the eclectic musical tastes of everyone involved - samples from yesteryear include performances by the Rajasthani Folk Musicians, Oysterband, Bhundu Boys, Black Umfolosi, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Shooglenifty, Edward II, Bert Jansch, Banyumas Bamboo Gamelan, Rory McLeod, Show of Hands, Robin Williamson, Eliza Carthy, Toyah and Flook.

Larmer Tree has expanded into the cyber world and has been online since February 1998. Organisers rave about its positive impact on the festival with an extensive mailing list and growing numbers of people are now buying tickets with the online booking form.

While the two months prior to the festival spells sleepless nights for all involved, they maintain that creating a four day event from nothing is what keeps them ticking over. "Hearing people reminiscing about Larmer Tree all year round!" say Julia and James, serves as an incentive to run the summer event. They also enjoy "being in a position to introduce people, especially children and young adults to non-mainstream music of an excellent quality".