BODGERS, charcoal-makers, basket-weavers and other traditional craft-workers plan to turn people's heads at the Woodland Festival at Marbury Country Park, Northwich, on Sunday, November 30.
The Cheshire Guild of Wood Turners will be among the skilled workers demonstrating time-honoured methods such as using a pole lathe to turn wood without electricity.
Visitors will be able to smell the woodsmoke as charcoal is made, see rustic furniture and tools being crafted, watch basket-weaving in action - and more.
Children can go potty making a broomstick, creating a whistle or building a nest box.
Marbury Country Park is a historic parkland near Anderton Boat Lift and in the heart of Northwich Community Woodlands.
The park has several woods including Big Wood, which is full of old oak, ash and sycamore trees.
In the past many of Cheshire's woodlands were coppiced - or thinned - regularly to provide timber or whips for traditional crafts such as those to be found at the festival.
'Craft workers and woodland artists from all over the North West are coming to Northwich for this festival,' said Mac Carding, who works with woodland Friends groups as part of The Mersey Forest Community Contracting Initiative.
'We hope that everyone will come along to see what woodlands can give us and enjoy watching traditional skills in action, many of which still have a place in our lives today.'
Funds for the event were collected by Friends of Anderton and Marbury (FOAM), a group of volunteers who help Cheshire County Council's Countryside Rangers manage the area's parks.
Sponsors include The Woodland Trust, Cheshire County Council, The Mersey Forest and BTCV.
The festival is from 11am-3pm. Admission is free but normal car parking charges will apply. For more information, ring Brian Jaques on 01606 891242.
