Kent Forest Illuminated by Returning Christmas Light Trail

Thousands of individuals are anticipated to visit a Kent forest this Christmas season as a popular light trail makes its return for its seventh consecutive year. The event will be held across 37 evenings until 1 January, featuring a series of illuminated artworks that transform Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest into a festive winter landscape. Preparations commenced in early October, involving the setup of over a million sparkling lights, various decorations, and 20 kilometres of electrical cabling for the launch night on Friday. The trail undergoes a redesign annually, and general manager Jon Codd indicated numerous unexpected elements: “We follow the same route but you will be met with really magical new installations along the way.” New installations for 2024 feature Light a Wish by artists Merav Eitan and Gaston Zahr, which portrays dandelion seeds drifting through the air, representing wishes in flight. Also making its first appearance is Mycelium Network by Stevie Thompson, a luminous display of hundreds of colour-changing mushrooms drawing inspiration from the intricate mycelium networks that connect plants underground. Additionally, Nova, created by Studio Vertigo, stands as a three-metre-tall sculpture inspired by the mythical Star of the East. Approximately 80,000 people are projected to attend the forest near Tunbridge Wells over the coming seven weeks. According to Mr Codd: “We start work in February maintaining the paths so they are smooth enough for wheelchair and mobility scooter users. There are no steps to navigate and we also put on relax sessions that are less busy with lower lighting to help anybody who might be overwhelmed.” Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest, situated in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, houses a world-leading collection of conifers featuring over 12,000 specimen trees and will mark its 100th anniversary next year. For updates, follow BBC Kent on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 08081 002250. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.