The man next to us was on the edge of his fold up picnic seat.

Next he was on his feet.

He was standing up.

He was ready to join Paul Heaton's Caravan of Love.

He was more than a little bit inebriated, but it was not just prosecco induced - like the rest of us he was also drunk on the music and the party atmosphere flowing around Delamere Forest at the close of a melodious summer's evening.

It gave him courage, the courage to inch up to the line of people swaying from side to side in front of him, interlocking arms and singing.

The happiness bug was irrepressible, he could not resist but throw his arms around them and attach himself to his unknown 'brothers and sisters' on the love train.

He was representative of thousands of people enjoying a mood as buoyant as the giant orange and white balloons which were magically let loose into the crowd during a memorable finale from a right on form Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott.

Yes Paul, we were all ready, we were all standing up ready to sing from the highest mountain and valley low. Thankyou for giving us such a good time.

The Forestry Commission's concert series aimed at raising funds to continue its vital upkeep work, maintaining the health of our beautiful woodlands like Delamere Forest is an ingenious idea. There are few better settings for singing along to your favourite bands and getting acquainted with new ones.

Friday's concert was the first of three at Delamere this year and it made for an uplifting opener to the weekend.

There was a slightly hesitant start from an always genial Billy Bragg who admitted to being nervous as black clouds loomed and rainstorms threatened. But Billy is an old hand at brightening up a crowd and it was not long before he had them chanting out the words to mega hit I'm not looking for a New England.

Ironically though, from the cheers rising up as Billy lamented everything from Donald Trump to the scourge of disposable plastics, it was clear that many of us are looking for a new way to do less harm to our increasingly fragile world.

By the end of his set the rain had cleared and our spirits were suitably fired up for the return of Paul And Jacqui who we were lucky enough to witness as they went down a storm at Delamere two years ago.

This time they gave us material from their latest best selling album, alongside the big crowd pleasers like You Keep it all In, A Little Time, Rotterdam, Perfect 10 and I'll Sail This Ship Alone.

All was delivered with their usual down to earth charm and natural ability to interact with their fans.

They also performed a debut of a new song Seven Inch Singles, leaving us with its upbeat groove already ingrained in our heads after just one hearing.

Like Billy Bragg, this much experienced duo deliver music - and banter - with a key message. And, for sure, it's a message the world needs to begin listening too. Play it again Paul, play it enough for us all to get ready, stand up and board that Caravan of Love. We need to save our forests, and we need to save our world.