AS THE Cirencester March Hare Festival closes, I should like to say a very big thank you to lots of people who have shared the ‘hare story’ over the past few months.

As it all began in the planning of the Culture and Heritage Team of Cirencester Community Development Trust two years ago, my first thanks go to that initial planning and feasibility group.

For the last year the festival team has worked on the delivery of the project, so definitely thanks to all of the team.

Our patrons, partners and supporters helped enormously to raise the festival’s profile.

Our fantastic sponsors, too many to name individually here, who had faith in the project and who thus enabled it to go forward are due a big round of applause.

The brilliant local artists who worked on the decorating of the hares, including the celebrities who willingly gave up hours of their time, deserve a special mention.

A thank you is due to the designer of our very own festival hare, Alan Dun, who has produced a true new symbol — the Cirencester Hare Festival Hare.

No festival could be successful without engaging the public so I want to say a fantastic thank you to all those local people and visitors who put their heart and soul into the festival, following the trails and filling in the passports.

It was a joy to see the fun that all the children got from it all.

We can now all look forward to seeing the development of the Green Hare Churn Way which the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust will begin setting up shortly.

Keep an eye on their website for details of the plans and the progress of the Way.

The festival has proved that Cirencester has an appetite for such an event. Planning is now underway for 2015. I am looking for volunteers, sponsors and creative ideas for future projects. So please contact me via 01285 655648.

FLORENCE BEETLESTONE

Organiser of the Cirencester March Hare Festival Hare We Go 2014!

cirencesterharefestival.org.uk