Picture yourself in The National Forest woodland scene at the National Forest Wood Fair on Bank Holiday Monday 26 August, for a chance to win a Plant a Tree gift.

Do you remember the popular peep-through scenes at the seaside? Now you can be part of a fun woodland scene at this year's National Forest Wood Fair, depicting the life and work of the forest in a lighthearted way.

Who will you choose to be? The lumberjack shouting 'Timber!", the greenwood chairmaker, the tree planter, or even the wise old owl? The whole family can get involved!

Have your photograph taken with the forest scene peep-through board, and post it to The National Forest's social media sites and you will be entered for a prize draw to win a Plant a Tree in The National Forest. With Plant a Tree you get to plant a young 'whip' (tiny tree) in the Forest, at a site that will always be available for you to visit and enjoy the trees and the woodland as they grow.

The National Forest Wood Fair is packed with over a hundred demonstrations, craft and activity stands. The day features exciting displays from the lumberjacks, chainsaw carvers, pole lathe turners in their log to leg races and magnificent heavy horses hauling logs.

It's a great day out for all the family. Children will love the climbing wall, stories and songs from the Wild Man of the Woods, the chance to paddle a coracle, hitch a ride in the tree lift and try out eco art. As well as the peep-through forest scene, there will be free cartoon drawing workshops in The National Forest marquee and everyone is invited to have a go!

Richard Drakeley, Tourism Development and Promotions Officer for the National Forest Company, said: "We're offering a bit of a different view of the Forest this year! Our visitors will have a great time 'being' the different characters in the Forest, and will be able to share the experience with all their friends via our online photo gallery. While they're in the marquee, they can try drawing cartoons themselves with our experienced workshop leader, before sampling all the delights of the Wood Fair and our new Forest Food Festival."

Cookery demonstrations of jam making, pie making and Asian food, will alternate with live music from Govennan and woodworking masterclasses in wood turning, wood carving and steam bending.

The National Forest is a forest in the making, spanning two hundred miles of the Midlands. The Wood Fair is the ideal way to find out about the development of the Forest and how people can get involved. Anyone wanting to create woodland within the Forest, find out about managing their woodland, or ask where to walk or cycle in the Forest, will find out more at the Wood Fair.

The National Forest Wood Fair is run by the National Forest Company in partnership with Leicestershire County Council.  Beacon Hill Country Park, which is owned by Leicestershire County Council, is just 5 minutes from junctions 22/23 of the M1 motorway.

The Fair opens at 9am and closes at 6pm.  There is a free park and ride service running from County Hall, Glenfield, Leicester, and entry discounts for cyclists.

Tickets on the day, including car parking and a programme, cost adult £9, concession £6, family £25 (two adults and three concessionary tickets). Book in advance and get 20% discount! Tickets are on sale online (until midday Friday 23 August) at www.nationalforestwoodfair.co.uk and also available at the Tourist Information Centres in Ashby de la Zouch (01530 411767) and Swadlincote (01283 222848). Book in advance and get a family day out for £20!

For further information see www.nationalforestwoodfair.co.uk or call the National Forest Company on 01283 551211.

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Media contacts: For further information contact Carol Rowntree Jones at the National Forest Company on 01283 551211 / 07870 568628.  For background information please visit www.nationalforest.org Digital images 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 more than trebled to 19.5 per cent and in 2012 HRH the Duke of Cambridge planted the eight millionth tree in the Forest. 

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. The Independent Panel on Forestry, in its final report published in July 2012, stated: 'The National Forest exemplifies how a long term, resourced and focused agenda can increase publicly accessible woodland in an area alongside other environmental and economic benefits.'

5. In 2008, the National Forest Company and partners won the inaugural Sustainable Development UK Award, for their work in Ashby Woulds, at the heart of The National Forest.