Dozens of stallholders, craftspeople and demonstrations will grace Sherwood Forest for the second annual Major Oak Woodland Festival next month.

The event is organised by Nottinghamshire County Council in partnership with The Sherwood Forest Trust and will take place on September 12 and 13 between 11am and 4pm each day. It is being sponsored this year by Robert Woodhead Ltd and Edwinstowe House.

The event is a celebration of the forest as traditional and modern woodland crafts and skills are displayed and celebrated in the historic forest.

The autumn event is a highlight in the calendar for the iconic Major Oak which is the current holder of the Woodland Trust’s England Tree of the Year title following a public competition.

Just some of around 50 confirmed attendees at the festival next month include:

· Peter Wood, one of the country’s leading pole lathe turners, who founded Greenwood Days in Derbyshire, and uses traditional skills to turn ash wood into finely crafted chair legs for furniture

· Green Estate Ltd will be providing the ever popular horse logging demonstration with a chance to meet ‘Big Lad’ their Clydesdale horse

· Storytellers including Wild Man of the Woods Barry Patterson – Britain’s most travelled Green Man who provided a real hit with the crowds last year and newcomer Sophie Snell

· Gary Hackett, who makes hand crafted Bushcraft and Woodcraft knives and other tools using traditional methods with oak and yew wood handles, and founded Hackett of Sherwood based in Mansfield.

Coun John Knight, Committee Chairman for Culture at Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “Last year was the first year we hosted this event to celebrate 60 years of Sherwood Forest as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and it was such a success we have decided to host it again.

“We are very pleased that Robert Woodhead Ltd and Edwinstowe House will sponsor the Major Oak Woodland Festival. They are local companies with a strong track record within their respective industries.”

Dr Patrick Candler, Chief Executive of the Sherwood Forest Trust said: “The Major Oak Woodland Festival offers a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the beauty and the wonder of the Sherwood Forest, but also to appreciate how it has supported livelihoods throughout the ages. There will be a fantastic array of traditional and modern woodland crafts and skills displayed, together with stalls and activities to attract and interest all visitors. The Trust is delighted to be a partner with the County Council in the organisation of the Festival.”

Robert Woodhead Ltd is an award-winning company that specialises in the design, construction, refurbishment, conservation and repairs and maintenance of buildings. Sponsoring the Woodland Festival is part of the company’s vision of celebrating and raising awareness for traditional heritage crafts. Edwinstowe House is a business services provider headquartered in the heart of Sherwood Forest that provides commercial property management, serviced office space, conferencing, training, and business support services.

More details about this year’s Major Oak Woodland Festival can be found on Nottinghamshire County Council’s website: www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/whatson