Competitions & Events Information

APF 2024 welcomes the return of the UK Forwarder Driving championships sponsored by Richard Court Forestry Engineering & Coombes Forestry Ltd. The competition is designed to test the skill and dexterity of the UK’s top forwarder drivers in a series of fiendish tasks. Competitors will be using a brand new John Deere 1110G forwarder and have just 20 minutes to compete the course. Competitors can enter on the day providing places are available or in advance using the entry form in the useful documents section.

The Husqvarna World 25m pole climbing championships will feature the world’s top climbers competing against the clock to try win the crown of World Champion and a share of the fantastic prizes on offer. The world record currently stands at an unbelievable 9.76 seconds.

The A W Jenkinson & Tilhill European Chainsaw Carving Championships where 25 of Europe’s top carvers will be competing in a three day open competition to produce a stunning sculpture from a 2m x 1m piece of timber . The UK Open Fencing Championship sponsored by McVeigh Parker will see the UK’s top fencers compete head to head and against the clock to erect 100m of stock fencing. APF 2024 will also see the return of the Fencing village. This is an area dedicated to the very latest in fencing technology and equipment. Demonstrations by the UK’s top fencing equipment manufacturers will showcase the very latest machines, tools, materials and techniques in a series of practical workshops and demonstrations throughout the three day show.

The British Tree climbing competiton will see arborists racing against the clock to ascend the tree, achieve a number of targets and return to earth.

The Arb Worker Zone is an area focusing squarely on the Arborist. There will be three distinct areas. A practical area with demonstrations of the latest climbing techniques and equipment, knot tying and line throwing competitions, a technical demo area with workshops on new machine and equipment innovation and machine maintenance and the Arborists Workshop will have a series of short, walk-in presentations by industry experts on a wide variety of topical issues from plant health, bio security, running a business and becoming an approved contractor

The Forest Worker Zone. An interactive and practical area aimed at the forest or woodland contractor, tree surgeon or anyone who gets their hands dirty during the course of their work. It will consist of a series of short daily interactive presentations on subjects as diverse as physical welfare, chainsaw maintenance, taking out a loan and health and safety and training.

Axe throwing will also be making a return after a 22 year absence. Try your hand at throwing a single or double edged axe .

The Woodland Crafts area has grown to become the largest display of traditional woodland craft skills to be found in one place anywhere in the UK. Visitors will be able to watch and learn about charcoal burning, Sussex trugs, oak swill baskets, hazel hurdles, Windsor chairs, leather work, pole lathe turning, besom brooms, cane and rush seating, willow weaving, coracles, knife making and many more and will be able to try their hand at many of them.

A detailed programme of events will be published nearer the event.