A huge success! This is the overall verdict on EventPlan's high-quality Stone Age to D-Day multi-period re-enactment at picturesque High Woods Country Park, rural yet adjacent to Colchester town centre. Staged on behalf of and with the active involvement of local community groups, the Borough Council and the Colchester Volunteer Countryside Ranger Service, this fabulous free admission show was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Click for photos in our gallery, or for over 600 photographs taken by photographer Martin Coulbert, visit www.images2view.co.uk.

Despite ridiculous heat, which reached over 40 degrees on site at one stage, everybody seems to have had a wonderful time, whether visitors, performing re-enactors or staff. It  certainly generated one of the best "feel good" factors we have had the pleasure to witness in a long time. The huge expanses of woodland certainly helped people to temporarily escape the heat, whilst the peaceful lake and picturesque setting proved ideal for photographers and all those who prefer living history and arena displays to look completely "in period".

Around 600 re-enactors and other performers entertained approximately 8000 visitors over the weekend. Living history encampments (some nestled in woodland glades), arena displays, combat, pageantry, children's activities and conservation exhibits brought to life the rich human history of High Woods - from ancient times to today, adjacent town and Essex as a whole.

Community involvement was at the heart of this ambitious event, which forms part of a series of activities aimed at helping children and other residents to enjoy, celebrate and explore their history.  All being well, the show will become an annual affair.

High Woods Country Park consists of over 300 acres of attractive woodland and meadows, with a lake, extensive network of paths and a modern visitor centre. The combination of a photogenic natural setting and long history of human use made the park an ideal setting for this ambitious multi-era event. It worked wonderfully.

Participants included Stone Age man, Romans and Britons, Normans and Saxons, Medieval knights, ladies  courtiers and camp followers,  English Civil War soldiers and camp followers, C18th smugglers and highwaymen,  Victorians and World War Two soldiers. American Civil War Union and Confederates also took part, emphasising the very considerable (but generally little-known) involvement by British volunteers and industry in the War between the States (and the presence of British military observers from the Colchester garrison). On Saturday afternoon there was a children's historical fancy dress competition too, encouraging the kids to have an even more enjoyable time.

Following the murder of 6 soldiers from the Colchester garrison in Iraq earlier in the year, we held a minute's silence in their memory on both days. This sought to honour them and the many other servicemen from Essex that have lost their lives in action in past eras.  We also arranged collections on behalf of the Army Benevolent Fund. The latter was augmented by the activities of a group of desperate C18th highwaymen lurking in the woods, who proved so popular that visitors went looking for them to be "robbed"!

Many historical trader/demonstrators were present, displaying and selling reproductions of everyday ware (eg pottery, wood and leather goods) from the Romans onwards.

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 Updated 31 October 2003