PREPARATIONS are well under way for nearly 10,000 people to descend on a forest this weekend for two nights of live music.

The stage is almost set for chart-toppers McFly and Paul Weller to entertain music fans of all ages at concerts organised by the Forestry Commission to raise money to fund projects in the Dalby Forest, near Pickering, North Yorkshire.

Tonnes of sound equipment, nearly 150 lights and miles of cabling are being installed, turning the tree-lined Adderstone Field into a 5,000-capacity rock venue.

Tickets for Paul Weller, who is playing on Saturday, have sold out, but there are a few tickets remaining for McFly on Friday night.

The gigs are part of a series of 22 Forestry Commission concerts taking place nationwide, with acts including the Sugababes, Katherine Jenkins and Simply Red performing.

The concerts have been organised by Paddy Harrop, of Helmsley, North Yorkshire, who joined the Forestry Commission as a lumberjack before working his way up to recreation manager.

“The concerts have not only brought top music to wonderful venues,” he said, “They have also introduced thousands of people of all ages to our woods, giving forests like Dalby a whole new 21st Century profile.”

Dalby Forest will be closed to the public at 3pm before gates open for concertgoers at 6pm.

Outdoor clothes and a torch are advisable.

A small number of McFly tickets, priced £26.50, are still available from the Forestry Commission box office on 01842-814612, online at forestry.gov.uk/music, or from the visitor centre.