THE two major events staged in the Forest this week as part of a fighting comeback after the foot and mouth disaster have been hailed as great successes.
Sunday's Forest Showcase event at Speech House was packed with visitors – organisers say in the region of 4-5,000 called in – while the ongoing Light Shift display along part of the Sculpture Trail is drawing oohs and aahs from everyone who sees it.
Two marquees and sideshows in the grounds of Speech House became almost too crowded to move around in as farmers, food and drink producers and other manufacturers put the best the Forest can offer on show.
"It was a brilliant, brilliant day," said organiser Alison Childs. "I have never seen anything like it. There was just so much goodwill and everyone was happy.
"I'd like to thank everybody who came along and especially everyone who helped – the hotel in particular was just great.
"I was so nervous before – everyone was so new to it all and you can never quite be sure how things will work out. But in the event it was splendid."
The only problem had been a few parked cars getting stuck in the field but this was a minor problem caused by the weather.
Organisers of the Beechenhurst lights and sounds show are saying around 10,000 visitors have already called to see the show, which concludes this Friday night.