The First Hellfest Reforestation Initiative
This weekend, 1,500 native trees were planted on the grounds of Hellfest at the initiative of Savage Lands.
This pilot project marks a structural milestone: the first Hellfest reforestation initiative. It lays the foundation for a far more ambitious program that could reach 25,000 to 50,000 trees in the coming years.
The objective is clear: transform part of the site into a long-term ecological regeneration zone, and eventually extend these operations beyond the festival grounds to create a broader regional dynamic around biodiversity.
A Collective Project: NGOs, Volunteers, Artists, and Experts United
The operation brought together committed stakeholders:
- Savage Lands – project coordination
- Boom Forest – represented by Damien, also involved with the Francis Hallé association for primary forests
- LPO 44 – local biodiversity expertise
- Hellfest Productions – logistics, site preparation, and organization
Musical acts also joined the effort, including Skáld (scheduled to headline the next Hellfest), musicians from Savage Lands, Poun from Black Bomb A, Flo from Locomuerte, and members of Humanimal.
Hellfest ensured:
- Mechanical soil decompaction
- Compost and soil integration to improve plant establishment
- On-site logistics and volunteer catering
A local nursery, La Pepivert, supplied all 1,500 trees, exclusively composed of native regional species adapted to the territory.
A Reforestation Strategy Based on Ecological Study
Before planting began, a preliminary ecological assessment identified the species most likely to develop naturally if the area were left undisturbed for the next hundred years.
The result: a tree selection aligned with the region’s ecological dynamics.
The goal: foster a resilient, autonomous, and sustainable ecosystem.
This distinguishes the project from symbolic tree-planting campaigns. It is a structured effort to progressively rebuild a functional forest habitat.
From 1,500 to 50,000 Trees: A Long-Term Vision
These 1,500 trees represent a test phase.
If survival and adaptation indicators are positive, the initiative could scale significantly, with a potential objective of 25,000 to 50,000 trees planted at Hellfest.
Hellfest and Ecology: Toward a Hybrid Culture–Biodiversity Model
Hellfest is one of the largest extreme music festivals in the world. By committing to a structured reforestation project with Savage Lands, it demonstrates that a major cultural event can become a genuine driver of ecological transformation—beyond regulatory or administrative expectations.
The goal is to carry a message through concrete action, promote a philosophy, and attempt to rebuild the lost connection between humans and nature.
This planting weekend opens a new phase:
- Volunteer engagement
- Mobilization of local associations
- Strong territorial anchoring
- Testing a scalable and reproducible model
Savage Lands: When Music Protects Forests
Savage Lands is the first environmental organization founded by internationally recognized metal artists. Its model is simple: every artistic project directly finances biodiversity preservation or restoration.
The planting of 1,500 trees at Hellfest embodies this strategy: moving from words to action, delivering measurable results, and inspiring more ambitious projects across as many territories as possible.
Credit images : Jeremy Jouaud et Corentin Charbonnier / Wereal / Hellfest Lab