With a line-up of art theatre, debate, rural pursuits and fine-dining, Wilderness is far from the average music festival. Tim Hughes talks to the brains behind it all, Tim Harvey

AS the man behind the country’s most diverse music festival, Tim Harvey has good reason to be excited.

Taking place in the impossibly scenic setting of Cornbury Park, near Charlbury, Wilderness has a reputation for being the UK’s best-loved boutique festival, with its impressive bill of artists matched by its line-up of theatre, comedy, foodie events, creative workshops and outdoor pursuits.

“This is going to be the best year yet,” says Tim, who is busy putting the finishing touches to the third annual event, which begins on August 8.

“It’s a great privilege to organise it,” he adds. “In fact I’m as excited now as I was when we started this three years ago. The only difference now is that I don’t have to worry about how many tickets we have to sell as it’s going to be a sell-out, which is a fantastic achievement.”

Wilderness was born three years ago when Cornbury Festival, which was previously staged on the estate, moved to Great Tew. The owners of the park, Lord and Lady Rotherwick, had already been looking for a different, more eclectic event and were impressed by Tim’s plans for a creative gathering inspired by the valleys, woods and lakes of the estate.

Tim explains: “The idea was always to place a multitude of unique arts and experiences into one of England’s finest parkland estates, and to create a journey populated by intimate and enchanting performances that are absolutely wedded to the landscape. In fact, we spend as much time planning the layout of the festival as booking the acts.”

Starting modestly, the festival now has a capacity of 20,000 people. Organisers have, however, resisted the temptation to expand the site too much, preferring to preserve its intimate, natural atmosphere.

A measure of how far Wilderness has come is the calibre of its acts. Headlining are Australian synth-pop duo Empire of the Sun, who play their only UK festival; and folk-pop band Noah & The Whale.

Perhaps the biggest draw, however, is the set by American singer-songwriter Sixto Diaz Rodriguez.

The 70 year-old Detroit artist, who initially recorded in the 1970s, became a cult star, particularly in South Africa where his music was embraced by the anti-apartheid movement. He then disappeared, returning to his native Detroit to work on construction sites before seeing his career revived by fans. A film based on his life, Searching for Sugar Man, won an Oscar.

Also appearing are indie-rock five-piece Tribes, Isle of Wight pop act The Bees, Melody’s Echo Chamber, London electro artist Ghostpoet, Brit award-winner Tom Odell, Canadian singer-songwriter Martha Wainright, soul artist Michael Kiwanuka, Australian singer-songwriter Matt Corby, young indie-folk musician Lucy Rose, and the London Folk Guild.

Music aside, there will be fancy dress balls and late night parties in the woods, and displays of aerial acrobatics and street theatre from Transe Express and Les Pepones.

For those who prefer to exercise their grey matter, there will be art and craft workshops, talks and theatre productions, while foodies will be treated to tented banquets prepared by top chefs Yotam Ottolenghi, Russell Norman and Mark Hix.

And if revellers are worried about the calories, they can take a spin at a roller-disco or take part in woodland walks, wild swimming and horse riding – before relaxing in a lakeside spa with hot tubs.

“I have never seen a festival grow as rapidly as Wilderness,” says Tim, who is also creative director of the Secret Garden Party, Lovebox and the Mama Group, which runs Camden’s Jazz Cafe, the Forum in Kentish Town and Brighton’s Great Escape.

“It underscore what a great concept it is, irrespective of the bands and performers, and shows how it has captured the imagination of the audience.

“We always hoped this would be a festival of different parts, and its diversity keeps it fresh.

“In its category, it is without doubt one of, if not the best, festivals in the country. And there is huge interest in it from around the world, with people flying in to spend the weekend in this stunning landscape.”

Tim has another reason to love the festival. It also marks the third birthday of his daughter Fleur. “She was born the day we opened the gates in the first year,” he says. “That makes it very special to me. The festival and my daughter have grown hand in hand each year.”

BE THERE... Adult weekend camping tickets cost £146.50 (including booking fee). Weekend family and young people’s tickets have sold out. See wilderness festival.com