A GIANT shire gelding will be one of the star attractions at the Natural Harvest Day, at Guisborough Forest this weekend.

The festival will be held in the 700-acre wood from 10am to 5pm tomorrow, and will celebrate traditional crafts and natural goods.

There will be bee keepers, spoon makers, willow weavers, a blacksmith and organic food and beer makers.

Chris Wadsworth, who gave up his job as a lab technician 15 years ago to become a horse logger, will also be at the event with his horse Tees.

Visitors can watch the pair demonstrating their logging skills, as well as sampling ales of the North Yorkshire Beer Company, based at Pinchinthorpe, near Guisborough. There will also be music, entertainers, children's activities, dry stone walling, charcoal making and storytelling.

The event has been organised by the Friends of Guisborough Forest and Walkway, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council and the Forestry Commission. It received support under Defra's Rural Enterprise Scheme and the Tees Forest.

Forest Ranger Cath Brason said: "This is one of the biggest events we've ever staged. We'll be showcasing all things natural with hands-on eco crafts and organically grown products. There'll also be spectacular wildlife displays."

Entrance to the event, at the Guisborough Forest and Walkway centre, off the A173, south of the junction with the A171, is free. For more information, call (01287) 631132.