Birds, beasties and countryside crafts from bodging to willow weaving were on offer at a family festival held at Sheringham beauty spot Pretty Corner.

North Norfolk News: Eight-year-old Harriet Smith and brother Oscar, 5, having fun at a summer festival hosted by North Norfolk District Council and the Woodland Trust at Sheringham beauty spot Pretty Corner. Photo: Karen BethellEight-year-old Harriet Smith and brother Oscar, 5, having fun at a summer festival hosted by North Norfolk District Council and the Woodland Trust at Sheringham beauty spot Pretty Corner. Photo: Karen Bethell (Image: Archant)

Hosted for the third year running by the Woodland Trust and North Norfolk District Council, the event aimed to encourage local people and visitors to visit the Green Flag award-winning, 60 hectare wood, which is home to creatures ranging from bats and buzzards, to owls, woodpeckers and deer.

As well as taking part in activities including storytelling, face painting archery, mini-beast hunting and drumming, festival-goers had a chance to watch logging demonstrations by Mark Tasker and his horse Buddy, see a tree surgeon at work, meet cuddly animals brought along by Keith Stone of Melsop Farm Park, and take a spin on a people-powered carousel built by a team of artists from Great Yarmouth-based arts charity SeaChange.

Pretty Corner, off Holway Road, is one of 1,000 UK sites supported by the Woodland Trust. An improvement programme instigated last year by the district council, which jointly manages the wood, means it now boast 700 metres of accessible pathways and 370 metres of boardwalks, as well as pond-dipping platforms and better viewpoints and car parking,

Woodland Trust estate marketing officer Sarah Leach said the festival, which attracted more than 1200 people, gave families who might not otherwise visit the woods a chance to enjoy nature-themed activities in a local, outdoor setting.

'We have had a real mix of ages come along,' she added. 'It has been a lovely day and one of the nice things about the festival is that it gives us a chance to spread the message about other Woodland Trust sites.'

For information more information about Pretty Corner events, visit www.woodlandtrust.org.uk