This year's Festival of the Tree at Westonbirt Arboretum gave members of the Forest of Avon Wood Products Co-op the chance to demonstrate the real power of working co-operatively.

15 members of the co-op attended the show and created a complete Forest of Avon Products mini-festival complete with displays of products, skills demonstrations and hands-on workshops. Visitors to the Forest of Avon arena were able to see the works of furniture designers, wood turners, charcoal makers, carvers and scupltors, green woodworkers, nestbox makers, tree growers and tree climbers.

Demonstrations included steam bending, charcoal burning, pole-lathing and wood carving. Workshops included netsbox making, pole lathing and tree climbing.

In addition to the wealth of products, services and expertise on display - working co-operatively paid dividends for the members of the co-operative. As Bob Slade, chair of the Events Sub-Commttee, remarked - 'sharing the space and the cost this way made the ebvent much more affordable for our members. Then there is the added benefit of having somebody to look after and promote your stuff if you can;t be there all the time, and in the end it is just a lot more fun being all here together.'

Judging by the throngs of excited and happy visitors - co-operative working got their thumbs-up as well.