An art exhibition is coming to an unlikely location, a forest in Gloucestershire.

Bob Major, a retired soldier who served in the Gulf War, will be displaying his art, made from locally recycled wood, at an ancient woodland near Guiting Power.

The exhibition, on Saturday, October 30, will raise money to help soldiers traumatised by war, an issue close to Mr Major’s heart.

He suffered from PTSD after being gassed in Saudi Arabia so is hoping to use funds raised to offer soldiers a week’s stay in the woods.

Mr Major said: “Ancient woodland conservation offers the ideal platform as it allows us to be part of the solution to a global problem – deforestation.

“This will inevitably increase one's self-worth which is hit hard by PTSD.”

The former Royal Hussar and Royal Army Medical Corps soldier set up Woodland for Soldiers during last year’s lockdown.

Also a former shepherd, Mr Major joined the Army in 1976 and has based his artwork on “the ethos of ecopsychology”, a theory which links mental health with nature.

Two other local artists will also be displaying their work at the event.

Award winning photographer Rick Senley will be offering limited edition framed prints of his drone and landscape work while Matt Fergyson will also be showcasing his artwork which includes bird houses made from recycled tools.

Previous fundraising events organised by Mr Major were put on hold during lockdown and he also had to pull out of a sponsored 100 mile walk earlier this year due to injury.

Money raised from the exhibit and Mr Majors own PTSD government pay out will be used to kickstart Woodlands for Soldiers, which he hopes to start next Autumn.

The exhibition takes place on Saturday, October 30, from 10am to 3.30pm. The nearest post code is GL54 5AS – the woods are on Campden Lane, between Guiting Power and Winchcombe. There will be signs marked W.F.S (Woodland for Soldiers) near the entrance to the woods.