The second National Forest Wood Fair, taking place on Bank Holiday Monday 28 August, promises to be even bigger and better than the hugely successful event last year.

Dozens of traditional woodland crafts and skills will be demonstrated at this year�s event at Beacon Hill Country Park, Leicestershire, many of which visitors will be able to �have a go at� themselves.

Interactive demonstrations will include basket making, creating dug-out canoes from trees, crafting walking sticks, besom brooms and whistles, chair and bench making, greenwood working using pole lathes, tree surgery and many more.

Renato Antonelli is returning to the Wood Fair with his eco art and sculptures made from willow, bog oak and clay. Chainsaw sculptress, Lorraine Botterill, will be wielding her chainsaw to create extraordinary pieces of art from previously unremarkable blocks of wood.

The Potions Club is bringing foods from the Forest and herbs to heal. Demonstrations and tastings will include copper nettle soup, chestnut bread roll and rosehip syrup. There will be displays of coracle making (one-person boats that have a history dating back thousands of years) and plenty of woodwork tools and wooden products to buy. And �hotting up� this year�s event will be Dave Watson and Ian Cresswell from Woodland Survival Crafts who will be demonstrating friction fire lighting among other survival skills.

Tim Adkin, The National Forest�s Woodland Economy Business Support Officer, will be providing advice to woodland-related business on finding new markets for their products and the Royal Forestry Society is joining the fun with rustic furniture displays and demonstrations in charcoal burning.

More than 2,500 visitors came to last year�s event and already over 60 businesses, exhibitors and demonstrators have confirmed their attendance at this year�s Fair.

Dr Hugh Williams from the National Forest Company said: �We are delighted by the enthusiasm from exhibitors and visitors to the show alike. Already most of the exhibitors from last year have confirmed they will be returning and have booked their �spot� for the event � so available slots are going fast!

�Visitors to the wood fair will be able to experience all aspects of forestry from seed to sawmill. Managing woodlands is an essential part of forestry, which involves felling and thinning trees as well as planting. It is a constant renewable sustainable cycle.

�We want people to come along to the wood fair to learn about woodlands, have a go at some of the activities, perhaps buy some woodland produce, try local foods but most of all have a great day out!�

Those looking for an adrenaline rush can try their hand at tree climbing � supervised by trained arboriculturists and using safety ropes and harnesses. Keen gardeners can gain advice on their trees from tree nurseries and tree experts at the event. All this in the superb setting of Beacon Hill Country Park with fantastic views of the surrounding countryside - stretching as far as the Peak District.

The Wood Fair is organised by The National Forest Company and Leicestershire County Council in partnership with the Leicester Shire Economic Partnership. The Wood Fair will run from 10am-5pm and guarantees a great Bank Holiday Monday! Admission charges include car parking and a programme and will cost adults �5, Concessions �3 and a family ticket �12 (for two adults and two 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 that make up The National Forest.

For further information visit www.nationalforest.org or telephone 01283 551211

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Media contacts: For further information contact either Dr Hugh Williams at The National Forest Company on 01283 551211 or Nick Fell at Leicestershire County Council on 0116 265 6920. 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 for the Forest has already more than doubled to 16 per cent and over 6 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 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 to economic regeneration.

3. To achieve its objectives, the National Forest Company works in partnership with landowners, local authorities and private business and has strong support from Government, politicians and the public. The Company, which celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2005, receives grant in aid from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

4. The Wood Fair is promoted by Leicestershire County Council, The National Forest Company and Leicester Shire Economic Partnership. The National Forest Company (NFC) is responsible for implementing The National Forest. It does so in partnership with a wide range of public, private and voluntary sector organisations. Leicestershire County Council (LCC) own and manage a number of woodlands and country parks in and outside the Forest. LCC own and manage Beacon Hill - the location for the Wood Fair. Leicester Shire Economic Partnership (LSEP) is a not-for-profit company established by the East Midlands Development Agency to foster and promote economic development in Leicester and Leicestershire.