Festival to foster greater woodland awareness

Western Forestry Co-op has announced the return of the Woodland Festival at Clonalis Estate, Castlerea, Co Roscommon on Sunday, August 28, from 12-6pm.

The festival’s aim is to foster greater awareness of the benefits of trees and woodlands, woodland management and the amenity aspects of wooded areas, as well as the use of wood in furniture, crafts and building.

The day will include live woodland demonstrations in thinning, woodland improvement, farm forestry and harvesting, sawmilling, timber tasks, wood chipping, beekeeping, chainsaw operators and carving, small scale timber extraction.

There will also be woodland walks and talks, woodland games, information stands, wood products, food, crafts, family entertainment and much more.

There will be a Woodland Information Marquee for organisations such as the Department of Agriculture, Crann, Pro Silva, Teagasc, Woodlands of Ireland and the different colleges offering forestry courses, and a Harvesting area where participants can discuss and learn about different harvesting options, high pruning for quality, and how to maximise your timber crop.

In the family area Woodland Festival will have Woodland Games, face painting, woodland crafts, balloon making and music, all free.

There will be archery competition and an educational hive for Beekeeping, as well as food stalls and a picnic area, live music and storytelling.

"This is a day for everyone to come and see all that is good about woodlands and trees," say organisers.

As this is an outdoor event appropriate clothing and footwear is advisable. There is a festival map and event schedule on available on the Western Forestry Co-op website, and all areas will be signposted on the day.

For more information visit www.woodlandfestival.ie, or ‘westernforestrycoop’ on Facebook.