A popular tourist attraction didn't exactly meet Kacey Musgraves' expectations during a recent visit.
04.10.2023 - 12:21 / theguardian.com
Celebrating its 10th birthday this year, Glow Wild at Wakehurst, Kew’s more rural botanic garden in the Sussex countryside, will feature a huge illuminated whale and a projected version of Catherine Nelson’s colourful Planet Wakehurst, one of the UK’s biggest outdoor artworks. There will be thousands of lanterns as always, crafted by local volunteers, community groups and artists. This year’s shapes include buzzing pollinators, leaping fish, raindrops, thunderclouds and tiny seahorses. Wakehurst boasts the UK’s tallest living Christmas tree, a 37-metre-high giant redwood decorated with 1,800 bulbs. There’s an interactive puppet show near the marshmallow-toasting firepit and wishing stars to hang in the trees.
Various evenings from 23 November to 1 January, adult from £18, child from £11.50,kew.org
Central Newcastle’s oldest park celebrates its 150th anniversary this December by opening a new, mile-long trail of music and choreographed illuminations. The statues, lakes and woodlands of Leazes Park will be lit up by artificial starlight, powered by generators that use vegetable oil. Glowing globes will float over the water and lasers slice through dry ice, all accompanied by Christmassy refreshments and vintage fairground rides. On 23 December a fundraising night with carols from a community choir will raise money to revamp the children’s playground.
23 November to 1 January, adult £19, child £13.50, northernlightsnewcastle.com
With thousands of plant species across 15 landscaped hectares (40 acres), Cambridge has one of the world’s biggest university-owned botanic gardens. Already known as a seasonal destination for its fragrant winter walks amid carpets of snowdrops, Cambridge University Botanic Garden is opening a light trail for the first time this December. It aims to showcase fountains, greenhouses and sculptural trees with effects designed to enhance rather than obscure natural features. There will be festive food and hot drinks from the popular garden cafe and a kiosk halfway round the trail.
Thursdays to Sundays from 1 to 22 December, adult £20.35, Cambridge University student £17.05, child £13.20,botanic.cam.ac.uk
Another new trail twinkles into life from late November around Monteviot House, 10 miles south-west of Kelso. The 18th-century house, official home of the Marquis of Lothian (the Tory politician Michael Ancram), sits in 12 hectares (30 acres) of gardens. The first winter light trail in the Scottish Borders aims to turn the wooded grounds into a winter fairytale with shifting imagery and soundscapes. The team behind the trail is event company NL Productions, which creates other well-loved Scottish illuminations such as Edinburgh’s Castle of Light and Pitlochry’s Enchanted Forest in
A popular tourist attraction didn't exactly meet Kacey Musgraves' expectations during a recent visit.
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