Escape the shops, wrap up warm, enjoy the Christmassy scent of pine trees, and get into the festive spirit this year in the nation’s forests.

With magical illuminated trails, stargazing opportunities and the chance to buy your Santa certified Christmas tree from the heart of the forest, Forestry Commission England sites offer the perfect location for a family Christmas day out.

Paul Weller is the first artist to announce gigs as part of Forest Live 2019, the summer concert series promoted by the Forestry Commission.

Paul’s latest release ‘True Meanings’, entered the UK charts at No 2. It is his fourteenth solo album and the twenty-sixth studio album of his career that began in 1977 with The Jam’s debut album ‘In the City’.

News: Turner Prize-winning artist Rachel Whiteread creates new work for centenary of the Forestry Commission

Long hot summer means that autumn has come early and could be shorter
Experts at Forestry Commission England have reported leaves turning a rainbow of colour despite it being early September.
The onset of autumn is controlled by temperature and day length, and with the days getting colder and shorter, it seems like autumn arrived as soon as the kids went back to school. 

To encourage children to explore their local woodlands after school, Forestry Commission England has joined in partnership with Roald Dahl Story Company to create the most marvellous “forest adventure kit”. The kit will be launched on 13 September, Roald Dahl Day to celebrate the much-loved author on his birthday. Roald Dahl Day is the annual, global celebration of the world’s number one storyteller, his beloved stories and unforgettable characters.