A FOREST is aiming to lure star-gazers and nature lovers this weekend as part of a drive to get visitors back into the countryside.

The 8,600-acre Dalby Forest, near Pickering, North Yorkshire, is dropping admission charges to support the Government's Your Countryside, You're Welcome campaign.

Events get under way tonight, with a spring star party at the forest's new observatory, where members of the Scarborough Astronomical Society will be shedding light on the mysteries of the cosmos. Viewing starts at 7pm.

Tomorrow and Sunday, nature lovers can join forest rangers making bird boxes at the Dalby visitor centre.

There will also be safaris into the forest's "outback", at 2pm on both days.