THERE will be a special long-eared guest at this year’s Treefest at Westonbirt Arboretum.

A giant wooden hare will be sculpted at the festival this Bank Holiday weekend as part of the Cirencester March Hare Festival, which has seen the town populated by five foot hare models, all uniquely decorated.

The Treefest hare will be carved at the festival by renowned carver Patrick Brown.

Last year Patrick carved a wooden Gromit at Treefest for the Bristol based sculpture festival that went to auction.

All the hare’s, including the wooden one, will be auctioned off at the Kings Head Hotel’s Assembly Rooms in October.

Festival organiser Florence Beetlestone was keen to take the hare festival out of Cirencester.

“This year’s Treefest carving theme is woodland wildlife which fits nicely with the carving of the hare," she said.

"Other animals will be carved as part of the wildlife benches, from stag beetles, to bears, hedgehogs and squirrels. The charity our festival is supporting is the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust so it is perfect.”

Treefest is Westonbirt’s signature summer event, attracting up to 20,000 people every year with 2014 being particularly special as it’s the 20th birthday of the event.

Chainsaw carving has been a huge part of the event. 

Visitors can enjoy local food, buy from over 130 exhibitors, get involved in activities, crafts, listen to live music and more.

There are also falconry displays, axe carving and racing as well as having a go at archery, zip wire and den building.

More info on Treefest, which runs from 23-25 August at forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt-treefest