HE’S the scariest creature in the wood, but brave visitors to Moors Valley Country Park and Forest can meet the Gruffalo.

The character will be visiting the park, near Ringwood, on July 20 and 21 as part of a weekend of celebrations to mark Moors Valley’s official 25th anniversary.

As well as meeting the life-size version of Julia Donaldson’s lovable woodland monster, Gruffalo fans can explore the Gruffalo Trail and even go home looking like the character thanks to some expert face-painting skills.

Anyone turning up in a Gruffalo costume will also receive a free Gruffalo mask to take home and colour in.

Other activities include a free den building session from 2pm to 5pm on Saturday, an anniversary walk, priced at £2, featuring funny anecdotes and historical information at 11.30am on Sunday, and enjoy a photo wall depicting Moors Valley’s development over the last 25 years, as well as a dragonfly exhibition featuring photographs by Clifton Beard.

Countryside interpretation ranger Katie Davies said: “July 20 and 21 will be our Big Weekend this year and the rangers will be out and about having some fun with our visitors. Everyone loves the Gruffalo and I’m looking forward to him arriving in our woods. I’m also delighted that we will be able to display Clifton Beard’s amazing photographs. Moors Valley has a dragonfly as its logo and it’s especially fitting that we can show this exhibition on our 25th anniversary.”

The Gruffalo will be making regular appearances between 11am and 4pm on July 20 and 21. The Gruffalo Trail opens daily from July 20 to September 1 and a trail card costs £2.