Attendance figures for the National Forest Wood Fair grew by more than 2,000 this year, exceeding all expectations.

5,500 visitors flocked to the event at Beacon Hill Country Park in August, and were treated to a day packed with lumberjack displays, chainsaw speed carving plus all kinds of wood-themed demonstrations and hands-on activities.

There were traditional activities such as wood turning and willow weaving, story telling and log splitting, and many would-be Ray Mears were eager to learn survival skills such as rainwater collection, firelighting and how to build a shelter out of branches and bracken.

�It was an excellent event � there was so much to see and do,� said one visitor. Others commented: �It was a lovely setting with the woodland and the scenery, and good to be out in the fresh air.� �An excellent day out and excellent value for money.� �A relaxed and friendly environment.�

Dinah Nichols, Chair of the National Forest Company, said: �Each year we work hard with our partners at Leicestershire County Council to make The National Forest Wood Fair even better than the year before. We knew this was set to be a fantastic day and had just been hoping for good weather � which we got! The crowd really enjoyed the new attractions we had lined up, particularly the axe men and the chainsaw speed carve. The charity auction in aid of Tree Aid saw some exciting bidding and raised �850 for a very worthwhile cause. The Fair is now a regular date for many of our visitors - we look forward to seeing them each year, and giving them an update on how the Forest is progressing.

�The Wood Fair is a fantastic opportunity to show all the benefits of creating something as ambitious as The National Forest: new habitats for wildlife, new walks and cycle routes, wood chips and logs for fuel, and in the future, timber for furniture, craft, construction and other uses.�

The One Oak project was a unique attraction at the Wood Fair.

In order to show the benefits of woodland management and how varied can be the uses of timber from a single tree, an oak tree, that had been felled as part of essential management works in a National Forest woodland, was divided up between sixteen craftspeople. Each was invited to make something beautiful or useful � and preferably both � from a selected portion of the timber.

All the items produced from the timber were on display at the Wood Fair, and all �badged� with the One Oak project logo. They included garden gates, beautiful benches (one of which will be placed in the woodland where the oak tree grew), a model timber truck, coat hooks, floorboards, a dog kennel, bird boxes, turned bowls, a magnificent chainsaw sculpture, logs, charcoal, and a lovely carved owl.

The story of the project was told in words and pictures in The National Forest marquee and children were invited to take up the One Oak Challenge.

Simon Greenhouse, Woodland Officer for the National Forest Company, said: �The One Oak project attracted a lot of interest. We hope it has helped people understand it is important to look after woodlands as they grow, that timber is a very useful resource and that, by replacing the trees that are taken out, it is a truly sustainable cycle of land management.�

The date for the 2010 Wood Fair has been confirmed for Bank Holiday Monday 30 August. See www.nationalforest.org/forest/woodfair/ for more information.

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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.

Website: www.nationalforest.org 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