WITH the annual Scottish Conker Championships, a mouthwatering food market, a brand new chainsaw carving extravaganza, an outstanding indoor wood market and much more, it’s no surprise that the opening of the 10th Tweed Valley Forest Festival drew crowds from far and wide to Tweed Green in Peebles last weekend.

Visitors could hardly fail to notice the dozen chainsaw carvers taking part in Carvefest – their noisy works of art taking shape alongside the Tweed.

The buzz of chainsaws wielded by some of the very best carvers in the UK transformed timber brought on site by local haulier Robert Kennedy into bears, bunnies and benches – with items auctioned to the public on Sunday.

Meanwhile, inside the main marquee, the competition to be crowned conker champion was fierce in each of the four categories, with Jack Craigen (Junior category), Stuart Head (Youth), Steve Whitehorn (Adult) and – on his ninth attempt – Treefest steering group member Iain Laidlaw (Rogue) emerging victorious from the great smash off.

And in the nearby Community Centre, the Wood Market once again showed why it is considered to be the premier event of its kind in Scotland with a buzzing atmosphere and sales of every imaginable item, from bespoke wooden furniture to toys, trinkets, mirrors and sawn timber.

And there’s still more to come at this year’s festival with a range of events over the coming weekend – not least with Halloween being celebrated in style at three of the Borders’ most historic houses.

Traquair House will host its annual ghost tours – this year with a real Jacobite theme – today (Friday) and tomorrow (Saturday) while families can enjoy the annual Halloween Fun Day on Sunday.

Elsewhere, families can discover some of the ghastly ghouls at Bowhill House during its Haunted Halloween walks today and tomorrow (walks start at 6pm, 7.15pm and 8.15pm), while Abbotsford House will run a special candlelit tour on Saturday – a chance to step back in time and discover grisly legends, spooky stories and tales of ghostly goings-on at Sir Walter Scott’s famed former home.

There will be one family tour at 6pm, followed by two adults-only tours at 8pm and 10pm.

But the final weekend of the festival is not all about ghosts and ghoulies.

On Saturday (2pm to 4pm), artist Adrian McCurdy will host an open gallery day at St Ronan’s Wells Visitor Centre where he will talk about Cleft and Carved – his stunning exhibition of unique cleft oak furniture and carved wood panels.

Finally, on Sunday, the lovely Dawyck Botanic Garden will host a guided walk that will show off the wonderful autumn colours at one of the world’s finest arboreta. The walk begins at 2.15pm.

For more information, visit www.forest-festival.com