5:10pm Sunday 5th September 2010
By Edmund Tobin
THIS year's Forest Festival was a record-breaker with more than 30,000 people enjoying stalls, rides, and arena entertainment.
Crowds flocked to Chingford Plain for the annual event which is the biggest day out in the Epping Forest calendar.
On the day, people could try their hands at archery, and a climbing wall and enjoy a ride on a tractor.
There were also many stalls on offer from various groups including the Friends of Epping Forest, Battersea Dogs Home and Waltham Abbey Historical Society.
This year, for the first time, people could hitch a ride on one of the City Of London Corporation new teupens- a crane used for pollarding tall trees.
In the arena there were regular dog displays and the day ended with a grand chariot race.
City of London outside services manager Tony Fenwick, who helped organise the day, said: “It's gone fantastically well with easily record-breaking numbers.
“It's a tribute to people's love of and enjoyment of Epping Forest. The festival is all about celebrating the forest and it's wonderful that so many people have come out to enjoy the day.
“There was a real family feel to the day and every thing's gone really well.
“The birds of prey are always enjoyed by the crowd and the chariots are always a real highlight.”
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/trade_directory/