THE first Eco Festival has been hailed a “huge success”.

Colchester’s Castle Park was taken over by more than 3,500 environmentally friendly festival-goers.

Organisers of Eco Festival said its first event was a huge success and inspired attendees to be kinder to the environment.

Malcolm Laquis-Alden, the festival co-ordinator, said: “The dedication shown from the whole events committee in unprecedented times was unwavering.

“It is testament to the dedicated team of volunteers how much of their own time was put into its organisation.

“The event was a huge success and achieved all the goals that we set over two years ago.”

All areas of the event were busy, from the e-transport area, music and dance on the main stage, vegan food vendors, speaker’s tent, children's area, healing tent and all of the stalls run by Essex businesses.

Even the set up and take down was eco-friendly.

Gazette:

E-cargo bikes were the main mode of transport for all of the event organisers set up and take down activities.

Emily Harrup, sustainable transport manager, at Colchester Council said: "With the help of volunteers and 3 e-trailers, we also distributed and then collected 125 pedestrian barriers."

Dedicated volunteers from Colchester Litter Pickers were also on hand all day to keep the area tidy.

Visitors, stallholders, speakers and entertainers all voiced positive feedback, telling organisers the festival was well run and organised.

And they want to come again next year.

Projects manager at en-form, Colchester’s Environmental Information Centre which supported the event, Andrew Wilkinson said: “There is already talk of expanding the festival next year to meet the demand from stallholders and sponsors. ”

Projects manager for en-form and volunteer co-ordinator at Eco Colchester Grace Darke said: “Festivals of any description, in any location, could use the Eco Festival as a framework to ensure they are minimising their environmental impact.

“I believe strongly this event will have a ripple effect on other communities and has the potential to be mirrored across the UK and even beyond.”

Those who attended the festival are asked to complete a survey at www.eco-festival.org/survey.

Learn about the group behind the movement at ecocolchester.org.uk.