An Australian axeman will join top UK lumberjacks at The National Forest Wood Fair, Beacon Hill Country Park, Leicestershire, on Bank Holiday Monday 31 August.

Making their first appearance at the Wood Fair, the New Forest and South East Axe Men will thrill the crowds with their razor sharp axes and exciting displays of log chop races, cross cut saw races and vertical no-rope log climbing. Members of the audience will get a chance to join in, as volunteers are invited to test their skills on the cross cut saw, up against the professionals.

The Axemen will be performing at 11am, 1pm and 3pm � don�t miss this fantastic show!

The whole day will be packed with live demonstrations of woodworking skills, craft displays and have-a-go activities for adults and children. There will be stories and songs from the Wild Man of the Woods, archery, birds of prey, horse logging and a brilliant climbing wall.

The Food Field will be stuffed with delicious locally-sourced food and drink and a farmers market. Make your own organic pizza, stoke up at the hog roast, try the delicious sweet or savoury pancakes, farmhouse ice cream or fresh fruit ice lollies. Tunnel Brewery will be selling local beer.

This fantastic family event is organised by the National Forest Company and Leicestershire County Council. It will run from 10am � 5pm on Bank Holiday Monday 31 August. Admission charges include car parking and a programme and will cost adults �6, concessions �4 and a family ticket �14 (for two adults and three children).

Beacon Hill Country Park lies within the ancient Forest of Charnwood and is close to the attractive village of Woodhouse Eaves, just five minutes drive from Junctions 22 or 23 of the M1. The Country Park, owned and managed by Leicestershire County Council, with its craggy summit and panoramic views, is just one of the many visitor attractions across the three counties of Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire that make up The National Forest.

See www.nationalforest.org www.leics.gov.uk/woodfair

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Media contacts: Carol Rowntree Jones, Media Relations Officer, or Penny Wilkinson, Tourism & Promotions Officer, National Forest Company on 01283 551211. For background information on The National Forest see www.nationalforest.org Digital images are available: contact media@nationalforest.org

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. The National Forest area covers 200 square miles of the counties of Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire. Its objective is to increase woodland cover within its boundaries from an initial six per cent to about a third. No multi-purpose forest on this scale has been created in the UK for one thousand years. To date the proportion of woodland cover in the Forest has already trebled to 18 per cent and over 7 million trees have been planted.

2. Year by year, The National Forest has been steadily turning what was once one of the least wooded areas of England into a multi-purpose, sustainable forest. The National Forest provides environmental, social and economic benefits, including landscape enhancement, creation of new wildlife habitats and major new access and leisure opportunities. It is an excellent example of sustainable development � with environmental improvement providing a stimulus both to economic regeneration and to community pride and activity.

3. To achieve these objectives, the National Forest Company leads the creation of The National Forest, working in partnership with landowners, local authorities, private business, voluntary organisations and local communities and has strong support from Government, politicians and the public. The Company receives grant in aid from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

4. In 2008 the National Forest Company and partners won the Sustainable Development UK Award, for their work in Ashby Woulds, in the heart of The National Forest. Get the date in your diary for The National Forest Wood Fair on Bank Holiday Monday 31 August. Set in the stunning landscape of Beacon Hill Country Park within the ancient Charnwood Forest, the Wood Fair will have live demonstrations, traditional woodland crafts to try, tasty local food as well as a charity auction, lumberjack show and information on trees and woodland.