The countryside is coming to south west London at the end of the summer with a show celebrating the great outdoors.

The Saw and Sand Festival at Chiswick House and Gardens from September 9 to 11 comes from the same team that put on the London International Ice Festival.

The festival’s artistic director Carol Cordrey said: “Creating the Saw and Sand Festival 2016 in the beautiful grounds of Chiswick House and Gardens has been so exciting and it will bring another unique art event to London.

“Visitors will be enthralled by the scale and artistry of what the sculptors can create with the media of wood and sand. We have designed the event to be not only inspirational, but great, outdoor fun for everyone."

Here are six reasons why you won’t want to miss it.

Sand sculptures

For the first time in central London, epic sand sculptures – measuring a whopping three metres high and two metres wide – will be handcrafted before your eyes over the course of the weekend. Each one is made of more than a tonne of sand and will be based on one of four themes: Wonders of the World, London Life, Let’s Get Outdoors and Most Memorable Musicals. You can vote for the best on Sunday.

Wooden chainsaw carvings

Championship international chainsaw carvers will show off their creativity, each transforming a giant reclaimed tree over the course of the weekend as well as speed sculpting on the central stage. Their unique artworks will be auctioned at the end of the festival. There is also the chance to talk to the carvers and learn about their techniques.

Timbersports athletes

Never seen before in London, lumberjack artists will put their strength and skill to the test in competitive axe chopping of logs, pole climbing and twin-saw versus chainsaw displays.

Beach volleyball

You’ll have seen it on the TV in Rio during the Olympics, and while Chiswick is not quite the Copacabana beach you can now see the sport in the flesh.

Family rides

Fun and rides for all ages includes a galloping carousel, a helter skelter, bungee trampolines, sand art and a sand pit, face painting and outdoor games.

Food

Pop-up craft food and drink in the Gardens’ cherry orchard includes sunset barbecues, retro ice cream, a smokehouse barbecue and oysters.

Tickets cost £15 adults and from £9 children. Go to sawandsand.co.uk

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