If you go down to the woods this month you're sure of a big surprise, from a mythical green man to tree climbers and willow weaving.
On August 16 and 17 the Linacre Woodland Festival takes place to celebrate old and new countryside techniques.
Keeping traditional crafts alive is a vital part of managing the countryside and every year Derbyshire County Council holds a celebratio
n of woodland skills at Linacre reservoir.
The event showcases traditional woodland crafts along with demonstrations of modern woodland management techniques.
There will be pole-lathe turning, clog making, timber frame building and chainsaw carving along with displays of peg making, wood chipping and saw milling.
Children will have plenty to do as well including making dreamcatchers, while a mythical Green Man will be singing and telling stories about woodland traditions.
This year there will be a big emphasis on reading as part of the National Year of Reading. A storyteller will be based in a traditional yurt hut and will tell tales based on the literature theme of the month which is sport.
Derbyshire County Council's cabinet member for the environment, Brian Lucas, said: "This festival is a great way of getting people out and about in the countryside and learning all about the heritage and hard work that goes into maintaining our wonderful county.
"There is something to appeal to everyone whether it is getting hands on with woodwork or admiring the skills of traditional craftsman."
On Sunday August 17 as an added attraction a horse drawn drey will take people through the festival site.
The event runs from 11am until 5pm on both days and there is a £2 car parking charge.
The full article contains 286 words and appears in Ilkeston Advertiser newspaper.
