The Romans came, saw and conquered the not-so barbarian hordes during an historic weekend in Whitehill & Bordon.

The clock turned back to the 1940s during the first weekend of June with World War Two troops and singers joining the D-Day 80 commemorations at The Shed, town park and Whitehill village hall.

But it went back even further on Hogmoor Inclosure with more than 2,000 people crossing the Rubicon and uncovering the Secrets of the Heath.

Roman battle re-enactments, storytelling session and wildlife walks were among the highlights as visitors learned more about the wonders of heathland during a fun weekend for all the family.

The beauty spot and The Beehive were buzzing with excitement from the opening hour to the guided bat walks in the evening.

Visitors could get close to reptiles and amphibians, search for weird and wonderful insects with the Hampshire & IoW Wildlife Trust and perfect their birding technique with the RSPB.

The arena was far less sedate with a range of high-octane and entertaining clashes between Saxon, Roman and Viking re-enactors.

East Hampshire District Council, Whitehill Town Council, the Land Trust, South Downs National Park Authority and the Whitehill & Bordon Community Trust all provided funding for the event.

Olivia French, heathlands engagement office for the SDNPA, was delighted with the success of the “wonderful weekend”.

She added: “It was a chance for people to learn more about this amazing habitat that is actually as rare as the rainforest and also has a lot of cultural heritage.

“I hope the event inspired many people to learn more about their local heathland and the ways in which it can be cared for.”

The event was organised by the team from the Heathlands Reunited: Wealden Heath SAMM (Strategic Access Management and Monitoring) project – a partnership of ten like-minded organisations.