The forest comes alive this weekend when two sell-out music shows are staged in the heart of Bedgebury Pinetum.

Singer Paloma Faith is no stranger to Goudhurst's picturesque pinetum.

The star wowed the crowds when she played there as part of the Forest Live summer concerts season back in 2015.

Now, she's back for more - and she's bringing plenty of new material with her.

Stopping in Kent as part of her The Architect summer tour, hits come from her No.1 album The Architect, which has notched up chart topping singles including Crybaby, Guilty, Til I’m Done and Make Your Own Kind of Music.

The new album is on course to be her fourth double platinum album in a row – which would make her the first British woman in chart history to achieve this.

She plays Forest Live at Bedgebury on Friday, June 15, with support from Ward Thomas.

She joins the former stars of The Beautiful South, Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott, whose latest album Crooked Calypso charted at No.2 and play their sell-out show at Bedgebury on Saturday, June 16.

They are joined by Billy Bragg as support for their set.

Former frontman with Hull-based 80s indie band The Housemartins, Paul Heaton, is one of the UK’s most successful songwriters with some 10 million album sales under his belt. The Housemartins are best known for their single Happy Hour and No.1 acapella Isley Bros cover Caravan of Love. In 1988 he went on to form The Beautiful South, releasing 10 successful albums.

Jacqui Abbott was lead vocalist with The Beautiful South from 1994 to 2000, singing on many of their signature hits including Rotterdam, Perfect 10, Don’t Marry Her and Dream A Little Dream.

They will play material from their albums as a duo and songs from The Beautiful South and the Housemartins at their sell-out show.

Last year’s concerts saw 80s star Rick Astley and Elbow perform to thousands.

Forest Live is put on by the Forestry Commission and comes to the pinetum at Goudhurst each summer.

The concerts are renowned for their informal and relaxed atmosphere set to a spectacular forest backdrop, with income generated from ticket sales helping to look after the nation’s forests sustainably.