Ian Varley of Funky Monkey Rustic Carpentry starts work on a plank of green oak timber to create a bench for the National Forest One Oak Project.

Sixteen craftspeople have been invited to make items from a hundred year old oak tree that was felled in The National Forest as part of essential management of one of the Forest woodlands.

Every piece of the tree has been used from the stump to the tip of the branches � even the sawdust!

All the items will be on display at The National Forest Wood Fair at Beacon Hill on Bank Holiday Monday 31 August.

Children who find all the items around the showground and unlock the anagram win a One Oak sticker!

See more at www.nationalforest.org or www.leics.gov.uk/woodfair

- ends -

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 Wood Fair is held in one of the most spectacular locations in the whole of the 200 square miles of the Forest, beneath the granite outcrops of Beacon Hill in Charnwood, near Loughborough.

The whole day will be packed with live demonstrations of woodworking skills and craft displays, with hands-on activities for adults and children. There will be stories and songs from the Wild Man of the Woods, archery, birds of prey and a brilliant climbing wall. The Wood Fair Food Area will be packed with delicious locally-sourced food and drink and a farmers market.

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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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, which celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2005, receives grant in aid from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. 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.