Your safety is our priority. We work closely with local authorities, emergency services, and specialist teams to create a safe environment for everyone attending.
Please take a moment to read the information below before attending. Each section provides important guidance to help you stay safe and make the most of your experience.
Festival Samaritans will be on site at Forbidden Forest Festival, based beside the arena entrance (in the campsite close to welfare and medical facilities), throughout the event.
They are here to listen to anyone who needs someone to talk to, whatever they’re going through, any time of the day or night
Samaritans provide a calm, confidential space for emotional support across the festival, supporting audiences, crew, traders, and staff. You don’t have to face things alone.
Security, stewarding and campsite staff are on duty across the festival at all times. All staff wear official festival tabards and are there to help or quickly get the support you need.
If a crime is taking place and there is a risk of injury or serious damage to property, please contact a member of staff immediately. If you cannot find a member of staff, call 999 straight away.
To report a non-emergency crime or to provide information about an incident during the festival, please call 101.
Looking After Yourself & Others
We do not tolerate discrimination of any kind. Everyone is welcome at our festival regardless of gender, race, disability, age, religion or belief, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity. If you see or experience anything that undermines this, please report it to a member of staff immediately.
Stay Safe at the Festival
-Arrange a meeting point and time with friends in case you get separated.
-Familiarise yourself with the site layout, especially your campsite, toilets and steward locations.
-Use landmarks near your tent to help you find your way back.
-Get to know the people camping around you and look out for one another.
-Keep your phone charged and carry a torch for when it gets dark.
-Stay hydrated using the free drinking water points across the arena.
-Drink responsibly and know your limits.
-Do not leave valuables in tents or unattended vehicles. Lockers are available to hire.
-Follow steward guidance on where to pitch tents. Tents blocking fire lanes or emergency exits may be removed for safety.
-Bring all required medication for existing medical conditions.
Staying Comfortable
-Take regular breaks, especially during long periods of dancing or time spent in busy areas.
-Use chill out areas to rest and cool down.
-If an area feels too crowded, move to a less busy space.
-Wear suitable clothing for the weather and temperature.
Support Onsite
Festival stewards are here to help at any time, whether you need directions, support or want to report a concern.
The Welfare and Medical Tent is open 24 hours, offering confidential support, advice and a monitored rest area if you need time to recover or speak to someone.
Please be aware that some performances may include strobe lighting, lasers, smoke effects and pyrotechnics.
Your safety is our priority.
To help us keep everyone safe, please bring only what you need. Bags larger than A4 size are not permitted in the arena. Security searches take place at campsite and arena entrances and may also be carried out anywhere onsite. Thank you for your patience and cooperation.
Our security teams are here to protect you. Most are easily identified by official festival tabards, and some operate discreetly. Please approach them at any time if you need help or support.
A fully staffed Medical Tent is open 24 hours and located close to the arena entrance.
You will see a range of security measures across the site, alongside monitored CCTV and a staffed Event Control working closely with local police and emergency services.
Teams are trained, regularly briefed and prepared to respond to incidents at any time.
Amnesty bins are available at entry points for the safe disposal of prohibited items before entering the festival.
If you see anything that doesn’t feel right, please report it to a member of staff immediately. Your awareness helps keep everyone safe.
Forbidden Forest does not condone the use of illegal drugs. It is against the law to buy, sell or take drugs, and UK drug laws apply onsite as they do anywhere else.
Your safety and wellbeing are our priority. If you feel unwell, worried or need support for any reason, you can speak to a member of staff or visit the Welfare Tent, which is open 24 hours. You will be supported without judgement.
If you choose to take drugs, please be aware:
-Substances in circulation can be extremely strong or contain unknown ingredients. Even pills that look the same may differ in strength.
-Mixing drugs with alcohol, prescription medication or other substances greatly increases the risk of serious harm or death.
-There is no safe dose, and reactions vary from person to person.
-If someone becomes unwell, seek medical help immediately and tell medics what has been taken. Acting quickly can save a life.
-Risks increase in hot, crowded environments, particularly if you are dehydrated or have been active for long periods.
New Psychoactive Substances (NPS)
Former “legal highs”, including nitrous oxide, are dangerous and illegal to supply. Packaging may not reflect what the substance actually contains, and strength can vary significantly.
Dealing & Enforcement
We work closely with local police and security teams to prevent the supply of drugs onsite. Searches may take place as a condition of entry and at any time during the event.
If you are offered drugs, please report this to a member of security.
Alcohol Safety
-Pace yourself and avoid excessive intoxication, particularly in unfamiliar environments.
-Alternate alcoholic drinks with water or soft drinks and stay hydrated.
-Never leave drinks unattended or accept drinks from someone you do not know.
-If someone is unconscious or unresponsive, place them in the recovery position and alert staff immediately.
-If you or someone you are with becomes seriously unwell, contact a member of staff straight away and request medical assistance. Do not delay in seeking help.
If you need to bring prescribed medication with you to the festival, please ensure it is kept in its original packaging and clearly labelled with your name and prescription details.
Security staff may need to check medication as part of routine safety procedures. Please do not be offended if you are asked questions. These checks are in place to protect everyone onsite and help us maintain a safe environment.
We recommend bringing only the medication you need for the duration of your stay and keeping it stored safely. If your medication requires refrigeration or additional support, please speak to a member of staff or visit the Medical or Welfare teams when you arrive.
If you have a long term medical condition, please make sure you bring enough medication to cover the full festival period.
If you have any concerns about bringing medication, please contact us in advance or speak to the Welfare or Medical teams on arrival
Campfires are not permitted anywhere onsite, including the campsites. This supports our environmental commitments and helps protect everyone’s safety.
Anyone seen creating or fuelling a fire will be removed from the festival. Possession of flares or fireworks is a criminal offence and may lead to removal from site, a fine or prosecution.
If you discover a fire:
-Get everyone away from the area immediately and move to safety.
-Alert the nearest steward, security team or campsite zone manager straight away so the onsite Fire Team can respond.
-If you cannot find a member of staff, call 999.
Small fires can spread extremely quickly, especially around tents and rubbish. Smoke and fumes can become dangerous within seconds.
Only attempt to tackle a fire if:
-It is in the very early stages.
-You can do so safely.
-You have a clear escape route at all times.
If you are in any doubt, do not try to fight the fire. Raise the alarm, keep others away and wait for trained staff to deal with it. Your safety always comes first.
Forbidden Forest is proud to support the Ask for Angela initiative as part of our commitment to providing a safe and welcoming environment for everyone.
If at any point you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, you can discreetly ask any member of event staff for “Angela”, and they will know that you need help and will support you appropriately.
The Welfare and Medical Tent is located beside the arena entrance and is open 24 hours and is staffed by experienced and supportive people.
They can provide confidential advice about drugs, alcohol, legal highs and sexual health, and offer support if you need to talk.
They offer a monitored rest and recovery area if you’ve overdone it. A quiet sensory space is also available at Welfare for anyone who needs a calmer environment to rest or take a break.
Please go to the Welfare or Medical tent if you experience any problems or need to talk to someone for any reason, no matter how small it may seem. Do not wait for symptoms to get worse before seeking help.
We are working with Counter Terrorism Policing to encourage live music fans to #BeSafeBeSound.
Counter Terrorism Policing is collaborating with the UK’s biggest music venues, arenas and festivals to deliver vital safety advice to the public.
We all have a role to play in keeping each other safe. Your safety is our priority and you can play your part by trusting your instincts, and if you see something that doesn’t feel right, tell security. Our teams will take every report seriously. You won’t be wasting their time.
Here are some quick tips to help you have a safe and enjoyable time:
- Arrive early, allowing more time for security checks and measures.
- Be patient with security checks. It might seem inconvenient, but they are in place to help you.
- Keep it simple and minimise what you carry. Fewer bags to search will speed up entry.
- Stay alert and look out for each other. If you see something that doesn’t feel right, tell security. Don’t leave it to someone else.
- Don’t leave bags unattended. Never agree to look after a stranger’s bag, no matter how genuine they seem.
- If there is an incident, listen to staff and any announcements.
In an emergency, always call 999.
Have an amazing time, and if you see something that doesn’t feel right, report it to security straight away. Thank you for playing your part.
If you need to bring medication with you, please bring a doctor’s note or a prescription for it if it is not easily recognisable. The medication must be in its original packaging. Don’t be offended if security questions the medication you are bringing into the Festival, it is their job to ensure the safety and security of all customers.
If you have any concerns about bringing medication, please contact us in advance or speak to the Welfare or Medical teams on arrival
