A wild day out for the holiday weekend

It’s a fine forecast for the last holiday of the summer! Make the most of a great Bank Holiday day out and get along to the National Forest Wood Fair in Leicestershire.

With an Australian axe man, top lumberjacks from the UK and a thrilling chainsaw speed carve between two guys and two girls, the sawdust will be flying and the throttle pumping!

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. The crowd 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 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 One Oak project, devised to demonstrate woodland management and just how many beautiful items can be made from a single tree, will feature in The National Forest marquee and throughout the site. Children who solve the challenge of the One Oak and unlock the anagram get a sticker.

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 nationalforest.org or leics.gov.uk/woodfair for more information.