FOR the past seven years Baldersby Park, a stone’s throw from Thirsk, one weekend of the year transforms itself into the Deer Shed Festival, a bijoux family friendly music, arts and science open air extravaganza set against the backdrop of a Palladian-style house and its grounds with lake, circular temple and obelisks.

While UK festival veterans may cling to the desire to forget themselves for a few nights each summer, an increasing number of such events nowadays brand themselves “family friendly”.

There is a risk this means programming that ends up pleasing children but fails adults, or vice-versa.

Deer Shed, which this year attracted about 9,000 visitors, manages to make itself all things to all men, women and children, at once civilised, educational, and yet pretty rock' n' roll when the lights go down. It feels like the effortlessly cool Yorkshire love child of Green Man and Cornbury festivals.

“The most important thing for us is that the festival grows organically and in line with our audience’s demand, ” said director Oliver Jones. “We keep growing year on year without losing any of that 'thing' that makes Deer Shed special – that safe, family feel.”

So what is Deer Shed’s “thing”? Well, it’s a bit of everything done well really: yoga, sports, workshops galore, and for all ages – I whittled a wooden spoon while my two-year-old painted a revolving record and my husband sipped cider in the sun. We listened to young bands, old bands, and discovered loads of great bands we’d never heard of (highlights included Meilyr Jones, Cristobal And The Sea and Holy Moly And The Crackers).

In short, Deer Shed, is both unexpected and very special, consequently, tickets for this small yet perfectly formed festival sell out fast, so keep an eye on the website for information about Deer Shed 8 – http://deershedfestival.com/. Early bird tickets go on sale at 10am on September 8.

Sarah Mayhew Craddock