THE Forestry Commission is laying out the red carpet for visitors to Dalby Forest, near Pickering, this Saturday and Sunday, March 16 & 17, and adding its weight to the Government's "Your countryside, you're welcome" campaign.

The 8,600-acre North Yorkshire woodland - visited by more than 250,000 people each year - will contribute its rustic charms to the initiative by removing the normal forest toll for the weekend and offering a star-studied array of free events.

As a curtain raiser, a spring star party is being staged at Dalby's new observatory with members of the Scarborough Astronomical Society shedding light on heavenly wonders above the forest's inky black skies. Viewing is free and gets under way on Friday, March 15, 7pm.

Then on Saturday and Sunday (11am-3pm) nature lovers can join rangers making bird boxes at the visitor centre. You can take these away and put them up in your back garden, if you wish.

The action continues with safaris into the forest's outback to view wildlife and the intriguing remains of Dalby's once-thriving rabbit farming industry, which once supplied pelts to milliners to make high society top hats. Treks set out both days at 2pm.

Andrew Smith, forest district manager, said: "We want to get the season off to a flying start by welcoming people back to one of Britain's most spectacular woodlands. This year promises to be one of our busiest ever, with two more open air concerts planned in June and our largest rallying event in ten years set for Dalby in the autumn. There's never been a better time to enjoy Yorkshire's great outdoors."

The Forestry Commission has also published this year's events calendar for the North Riding Forest Park, listing activities from badger watching to nature workshops. Copies are available at Dalby Forest Visitor Centre which is open 10am-5pm during the free weekend. It's also accessible on online at www.forestry.gov.uk/dalbyforest.

The nine-mile Dalby Forest drive is the country's longest tarmaced woodland roads snaking through spectacular scenery between Low Dalby and Hackness.

One of the highlights of this year's events diary is a debut performance by Jarvis Cocker and Pulp in Dalby on June 22.

"Your countryside" is a national campaign to encourage people into the English countryside. March 11-17 has been designated 'Your Countryside, You're Welcome' week, during which ministers and celebrities will visit attractions around England to promote rural holidays in the Easter break. The campaign will continue for several months. The campaign website address is www.yourcountryside.info.

Updated: 10:58 Thursday, March 14, 2002