THE great outdoors will be at the heart of a free event in Old Town later this year.

The ninth Forest Festival will return to The Lawn on Saturday, September 1 with Living Forest workshops for all the family.

Funding to ensure the event can go ahead this year has been secured from Thames Water and the Swindon Cultural Partner-ship.

The Great Western Community Forest team and their partners are now going full steam ahead with their plans for the day, which will focus on health and well-being and the way the outdoors and forest settings can help improve them.

Forest Festival organiser Heather Lilley said: "The community forest team are really pleased to have support from Thames Water and from Swindon Cultural Partnership this year.

"The festival has become a wonderful fixture in local people's diaries - as well as many familiar activities, such as workshops and stalls, we work hard to have new, fresh ideas each year so that people can return and still have a new experience.

"It will be about how we use the great outdoors and the community forest sites for health and well-being for things like walking, jogging, walking dogs, cycling and playing golf - anything that can be done outdoors.

"We are trying to have a quirkier side to it too, with breakdancing in the forest and outdoor gymnastics."

Local bands and performers will feature in the event to keep the music flowing through the trees, while environmental arts and crafts workshops will be taking place.

The children's area of the festival will also see circus skills, fun activities with willow, and outdoor games laid on.

Environmental campaigners are set to be on site for the day, giving members of the public advice, inspiration and information about their projects in the area.

The event has developed greatly from its first outing nine years ago, balancing learning about a range of green issues with having fun in a historic beauty spot at the heart of Swindon.