Joshua Dugdale must be one of the most well-connected people in the UK. His father was Sir William Dugdale CBE, chairman of Aston Villa FC who saw the team rise from the Third Division to win the European Cup in 1982, and his cousin is former Prime Minister, David Cameron. As noted documentary filmmaker, Dugdale took over the family estate at Wasing in 2008 and is now responsible for over 4,000 acres of Berkshire fields, woodland, rivers and soil.
Since he took over as custodian, Wasing has grown to become a sought-after wedding venue and he 2015 he opened the grounds to host a variety of wellness events including Sunday Soul Retreats, Wild Foraging and Gong Bath Meditations. Now he also welcomes a dazzling array of creatives who come to perform throughout the year. Later this month The Mount at Wasing will be hosting an impressive line-up of headliners so we jumped at the opportunity to learn more.
What did you do before you came to Wasing?
I was a journalist and filmmaker, spending a number of years travelling and producing projects around the world, including a three-year biopic on the Dalai Lama. Those experiences, as well as time spent with indigenous communities in Brazil, had a huge influence on me and ultimately inspired the kind of events and gatherings we now create at Wasing.
How do you see your role there?
As a multi-generational steward, I want to look after the land first and foremost, looking back to the traditions and history of generations before while also adapting and evolving for today and the future. At the heart is always the question of what it means to be a good ancestor, and how we care for the land so it can remain a meaningful and connected place for generations to come.
Which, of the many events held at Wasing, do you personally enjoy the most?
All the events held at Wasing are unique and special in their own way, bringing exceptional experiences fully immersed in nature. You’ve got everything from celebrating the summer solstice at Solstice at Wasing (20–21 June) to the incredible energy of Medicine Festival later in the summer. It’s difficult to choose a single favourite. That said, The Mount feels like the epicentre of what we do here.
It’s a really special venue. I don’t believe there is a better outdoor venue. It’s a big claim, but it really is something unique. In less than an hour from London you can be transported to the most incredible open-air woodland amphitheatre, surrounded by wildflowers and panoramic views that stretch for miles. At the centre of the Mount is a fire that brings everything together, something that I took from my time in Brazil. It really centres the energy of the concerts and makes for a very powerful experience and will be the perfect setting for this year’s artists. Pixies will be especially good, and I’m also really looking forward to Belle and Sebastian with St Etienne, and Self Esteem. In fact all of them will be amazing.
And what element of your day-to-day work do you enjoy the most?
The variety. No day is ever the same. We have lots of people who come to Wasing to experience different things. We host many weddings, the most important days of couples’ lives which is a huge honour, as well as a wide range of events and peak experiences. It’s a place where people can meet as they are, away from screens, and it often becomes the backdrop for really life-changing connections – I have lost count of the number of people who have met, and then either become couples or developed life-long friendships. And then there’s the connection to nature, the changing of the seasons, the rhythm of the farm – it’s a wonderful place to work.
What is your number one priority for the Estate?
To help create spaces where magic happens. Moments where people feel inspired and they can take the inspiration home with them. We hope for a better world and future, and many of our events are designed with that in mind.
Has your philosophy evolved as your experience has deepened?
I have become much more aware of the subtleties of the land, and I am able to tune into it better than when I first started out. Sometimes just from walking the land, I get some of my best inspiration and feel deeply connected to it. I firmly believe that we are part of nature, not separate from it, and feel grateful every day for the extraordinary spice and variety of life on this planet.
I think that I used to take for granted events in fields or festivals but now I think they are absolutely essential to our future as humans. That’s a big part of what we’re doing here – to provide wonderful backdrops where people can meet, form relationships, and feel more in tune with the natural world around them.
What, if anything, have you underestimated when implementing change at Wasing?
The importance of the team and how much more fun it is when the team are really engaged. That is not an easy path but one that comes from putting in hard yards. We have a wonderful gang working on the various elements of Wasing, but it hasn’t happened overnight.
Are you able to make change beyond the estate? In the current climate where world leaders fail to see sustainability as a priority and the general public are struggling with cost of living do you see this as something you can help address?
For me, the most meaningful impact we can make is by showing what’s possible at a local level, how land can be cared for, how events can be run more responsibly, and how spaces like Wasing can help people reconnect with each other and with nature. Even simple things, like our annual team litter picks across the local area are part of that ongoing responsibility and mindset. Those experiences can shift perspective in a way that feels real and tangible.
Beyond the estate, I’ve also been working on a number of projects, including with the Urge Collective (urgecollective.org), helping to develop plans for how sustainability can be taken forward more widely across the UK.
What are your plans for the future?
Looking ahead, it’s really about continuing to develop Wasing as a place where exceptional events and sustainability go hand in hand. That means looking at how we can be lower impact and more in tune with the land in everything we do. A big part of that is also growing our organic food offering and producing as much as we can here at Wasing, so that we can continue to create truly special experiences rooted in nature.
For the full programme of events on offer, and to book tickets to this year’s concerts at The Mount, visit wasing.co.uk.
