Families, walkers and visitors can now discover a new way to explore High Woods Country Park with the launch of the Twinkle Star Trail.
The trail was officially launched yesterday at High Woods Country Park by the Mayor of Colchester, alongside representatives from Colchester City Council and project partners.
The trail celebrates Colchester's connection to Jane and Ann Taylor, the sisters behind some of the world's best-loved children's poems, including Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. The sisters lived in Colchester and are known to have spent time walking in High Woods, inspiring a new experience that combines nature, local history and family fun.
Visitors can follow a short, family-friendly route around the park, stopping at five trail markers along the way. Inspired by the nature-themed poems of Jane and Ann Taylor, the trail combines local history, nature and family fun.
Available from the Visitor Centre for £3, the accompanying activity booklet includes the poems alongside children's activities, puzzles, colouring and games. It also contains QR codes linking to recordings of the poems, performed by local young people from Mercury Young Company, helping to bring the Taylor sisters' words to life for a new generation.
The Mayor of Colchester, Cllr Andrew Ellis, said: "This trail is a wonderful way to celebrate Colchester's rich heritage and share the story of Jane and Ann Taylor with residents and visitors alike. It is particularly fitting that local young people have helped bring these much-loved poems to life, creating an experience that families can enjoy together in one of our city's most beautiful green spaces."
Councillor Martin Goss, Portfolio Holder for Waste, Neighbourhoods and Leisure, said: "High Woods Country Park is one of Colchester's most treasured green spaces, and this trail offers residents and visitors a wonderful new reason to explore it. It's a great way for families to enjoy the outdoors, discover an important part of Colchester's history and experience these much-loved poems in a fresh and engaging way."
The idea for the Twinkle Star Trail came from social historians Peter Jones and Sir Bob Russell, who chairs the group that raised funds for the Twinkle Star statue on Colchester High Street.
The Twinkle Star Trail is now open at High Woods Country Park. Activity booklets, which include QR codes linking to recordings of the poems, are available from the Visitor Centre for £3.