PLANS to bring history to life at a former quarry site will be a "catalyst for growth" in north east Wales.
Work is ongoing at the 120-acre Park in the Past in Hope to shape an entire ancient landscape - complete with a full-scale, fully-functioning Roman fort.
It will be the first conquest-period timber fort to be built in Britain for nearly 2,000 years.
Mastermind of the project is owner of the Roman Tours in Chester, Paul Harston.
"We are creating somewhere totally unique," he told the Leader during a site visit.
"We want to bring history to life, to make it real - like stepping back in time to when the Romans arrived in North Wales.
"The sights and smells of what it would have been like 2,000 years ago will be recreated - the sound of a rider’s jingling harness, the clonk of wooden shields on armour and the orders of the officers calling out blanketing the birdsong and the rustling in the undergrowth."
The project has gathered interest from across the globe, amongst many historians and Roman enthusiasts - many of whom have pumped in thousands of pounds worth of funds into it.
As well as the Roman fort, there will also be a full-scale Celtic village to help understand how native Britons lived during this period, and an area that will be shaped to recreate what the landscape would have been like during the Ice Age.
And re-wilding is at the centre of the project at the disused quarry - which is twice the size of the Eden Project in Cornwall.
This includes thousands of plants being planted to create vast wildflower meadows, and an area largely off-limits to the public to allow nature to thrive.
"Britain has 97 per cent of its meadows since the Second World War," Paul said.
"Re-wilding is as big a part of this project as the historical reenactments. We have already seen a huge increase in the flora and fauna at the site, and only a very small part has been re-wilded so far."
And as part of an ecological partnership, the park has received tonnes-worth of top soil from Smurfit Kappa in Mold to help reduce waste.
"We want this place to bring in thousands of tourists to the area, and for it be a real catalyst for regeneration and growth in the north east Wales region," Paul said.
"There are nine million people within two hours of here - that's a huge catchment area where we can attract people from.
"And if people come to visit us, they will then pump money into the local economy by using local hotels, eateries and so forth."
Throughout the Covid-19 lockdown, the park played a vital part in helping the delivery operation run locally.
Paul explained: "With public places being largely closed, people delivering food and medicines to the vulnerable who were shielding needed somewhere with access to things like toilets.
"Park in the Past provided them with that and we're very proud to have played in the part in the herculean efforts that were made to support the vulnerable during the first and second waves of the virus."
The scheduled opening date for the park is May 1, 2022 - but the support of the public is needed to ensure this happens.
A crowdfunding campaign has been launched to raise £50,000 which will go towards the Roman fort project - with it being solely self-funded.
It has so far raised £5,000 and can be donated to via https://bit.ly/3u67kOi
"We want to get schools in, it'll be a great educational tool", Paul added.
"We also want to invite disadvantaged people to the park to help with things to boost their opportunities and give them somewhere safe and secure to meet new people and learn new skills."
The park's huge lake is already a popular attraction, and plays host to outdoor swimming and kayaking clubs.
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