30 June 2026
Room on the Broom comes to life in the nation’s forests this summer
Families looking for magical outdoor adventures this summer can now meet a beloved storybook character in the heart of the forest. To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Room on the Broom, Forestry England is partnering with Magic Light Pictures to bring the Witch from Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s much-loved story to a number of forests across the country for a series of special appearance days.
These free events promise a spellbinding day out for children and their grown-ups, combining play, magical encounters and the great outdoors. Alongside the chance to meet the Witch in person, visitors can enjoy a range of fun, family-friendly activities inspired by the story.
Kirstie Smith, Forestry England’s National Marketing Manager, said:
"We're delighted to be celebrating 25 years of Room on the Broom with these special forest events. Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's much-loved story has inspired generations of families, and there's something truly magical about bringing the Witch to life in our nation's forests. We can't wait to welcome families for a day of outdoor adventure, imagination and fun."
You don't need to book, just turn up on the day and join in the fun. Meet-and-greet sessions with the Witch will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, so it's worth arriving early if meeting her is top of your family's list this summer.
These special appearances complement Forestry England's Room on the Broom activity trail. On the trail, families can step into the story, take part in themed activities and discover the wonders of the woodland along the way. To make the adventure even more special, families can pick up a Room on the Broom trail pack for just £4. Each pack includes a themed lanyard, magic spell cards, stickers, a pencil, and a pop-out craft to create your very own witchy wand.
For full event listings and to find your nearest participating forest, visit www.forestryengland.uk/room-on-the-broom
Notes to Editor
- Forestry England manages and cares for the nation’s 1,500 woods and forests, with over 326 million visits in 2025/26. We use our scale and expertise to grow and care for the nation’s forests for this generation and the next. We are continuing the work we have already started to make the nation’s forests resilient to climate change and by 2026 we will:
- create at least 6,000 more hectares where we integrate wilding activities in our productive forests.
- increase the diversity of visitors to the nation’s forests and have one million hours of high-quality volunteer time given to the nation’s forests.
- plant at least 2,000 hectares of new, high-quality woodlands.
For more information visit forestryengland.uk. Forestry England is an agency of the Forestry Commission.
Magic Light Pictures is a multi-Oscar-nominated, BAFTA-winning company creating high-quality family entertainment and products. Founded by Martin Pope and Michael Rose in 2003, it is best known for its animated adaptations of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s books, including The Gruffalo, Zog, and Tiddler. The films are regularly a centrepiece of BBC One’s Christmas family schedule, a mainstay on iPlayer, and have sold to more than 170 countries. Magic Light’s growing slate of work also includes the preschool series Pip and Posy, the Oscar-nominated Revolting Rhymes, and the Emmy-winning The Velveteen Rabbit. In addition, the company runs an extensive licensing programme, with over 90 global partners and 2,000 product lines in the UK alone. Its latest releases include The Scarecrows’ Wedding, which aired at Christmas on BBC One, and the Zog preschool
series set to debut on CBeebies in 2026.Follow on LinkedIn and Instagram @MagicLightPics
Room on the Broom appearances:
| Date | Site |
| Wednesday 29 July | Forestry England Hamsterley Forest, County Durham |
| Thursday 30 July | Forestry England Whinlatter Forest, Cumbria |
| Friday 31 July and Saturday 1 August | Forestry England Salcey Forest, Northamptonshire |
| Thursday 6 August | Forestry England Delamere Forest, Cheshire |
| Friday 7 August | Forestry England Dalby Forest, North Yorkshire |
| Wednesday 12 August | Forestry England Wyre Forest, Worcestershire |
| Thursday 13 August | Forestry England Beechenhurst Forest, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire |
| Friday 14 August | Forestry England Haldon Forest, Devon |
| Saturday 15 August | Forestry England Westonbirt Arboretum, Gloucestershire |
| Thursday 20 August | Forestry England Alice Holt Forest, Hampshire |
| Friday 21 August | Forestry England Wendover Woods, Buckinghamshire |
| Saturday 22 August | Forestry England Bedgebury Pinetum & Forest, Kent |
| Friday 28 August | Forestry England High Lodge, Thetford Forest, Suffolk |
| Saturday 29 August | Forestry England Jeskyns Community Woodland, Kent |
| Saturday 21 November | Forestry England, Moors Valley County Park, Dorset |