It’s ‘oaky dokey’ for country fair

Now in its 17th year, the Oak Fair at Stock Gaylard is a celebration of countryside, woodland, timber, traditional craft and above all, conservation.

With more than 200 exhibitors showing everything from handcrafted wooden furniture to industrial machinery, the Oak Fair provides a platform for rural crafts and countryside conservation.

Demonstrations include the ever-popular chainsaw carving, falconry, heavy horse logging, and the Adams Axemen display. The heart of the Oak Fair has, and always will be, conservation of the countryside and woodland, as well as traditional country crafts.

Conservation Row guides you into the fair and is lined with stands advocating the preservation of our wildlife, countryside and crafts.

Here you can also watch medieval reenactments, demonstrations of traditional hand working and take a piece of rural skill home with you, or take a walk from the Ancient Tree Tent and learn about the ancient trees across the Dorset estate.

Take a stroll down Oak Avenue and discover beautifully-handcrafted furniture, homeware, baskets, jewellery, art, gifts and more, all nested in amongst the stunning avenue of oak trees and created by master craftspeople. Explore art and craft marquees along Oak

Avenue - filled with an array of handcrafted products and gifts including wooden board games, clocks, silver jewellery, handmade fountain pens, vegan skincare products and much, much more.

Follow the bridge over to Stock House and take a pause with coffee, cake or ice-cream while enjoying the views of the stunning oak woodland estate.

You can also try your hand at archery here as well as have-a-go scything sessions and tractor trailer rides through the historic deer park. Just a stone’s throw away you will find St Barnabas Church, where you can join the daily service or enjoy acapella singing and historical poetry performances. Meander along Dell Lane where you can find falconry and heavy horse displays, watch live demonstrations of ancient crafts and shop for handmade wooden toys, leathercraft, sculptures, baskets, homewares and more. Here you can also see demonstrations of skateboard and surfboard making and fine art foundry.

Watch vintage and modern tractors and machinery at work in the Machinery & Timber Yard. Here you can also see chainsawcarving displays and the daredevil stunts of the Adams Axemen display, whilst also perusing trade stands selling all things timber and machinery including timber framed buildings, cut wood, metalwork, flues and coppice work.

You can also get involved across all areas of the Oak Fair with hands-on activities for all ages including tree climbing and archery, and children’s activities including a zip wire, bushcraft skills, a barrel train, Little Land Rovers, scarecrow building, face painting and charcoal drawing.

If you start to feel peckish head to the Market Square where you will find something to eat to suit all members of the family, covering a wide variety of dietary requirements. With a strong commitment to local food and drinks producers, this year there will be more than 40 exhibitors across the Market Square and Food Marquee selling a wide range of delicious produce.

Early bird tickets are now available with the prices remaining the same as last year£12.50 adults, £2.50 children, £9 concessions. For more information or to buy tickets please visit theoakfair.com.