Birmingham's Magical, Illuminated Trail

A spectacular new Christmas trail at The Birmingham Botanical Gardens will be transforming the gardens into a magical illuminated wonderland when it opens on 29 November 2017.

The jewel-coloured trail will lead visitors through the Gardens, highlighting the rich Victorian history and heritage trees, all with the magical entertainment of the festive season.

The trail weaves across the landscape, telling little stories and encouraging visitors to interact with the seasonal themes. Installations that visitors will experience include illuminated scenes bringing to life The Twelve Days of Christmas; a tunnel of lights; a mistletoe moment, a scented fire garden and much more.

Visitors will also see an incredible Singing Tree. This magnificent coppice tree has five trunks! Using the latest technology this single coppice will appear to magically sing as visitors wander past. Inspiration will also be drawn from other festive pieces including Silent Night, O Holy Night and The Holly and the Ivy.

Leading the creative, design and implementation is Zoe Bottrell, who is responsible for the creative concepts enjoyed at the popular Christmas at Kew, whose trail has had over one million festive visitors!

The much-loved Botanical Gardens, with four Glasshouses, a Victorian park and bandstand, has provided horticultural inspiration for the Creative Designer.

Zoe plans to have every rib of the beautiful aviary aglow with programmable lights, whilst the entire lawn will be washed with fire-like illumination. This installation alone will feature over 60,000 individual lights. It will take the team over five days to rig the lighting using specialist riggers.

She says: “The Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Edgbaston, are an enticing canvas to create a Christmas story, featuring a beautiful aviary, to provide inspiration and illumination opportunities.”

Working in a heritage and botanical landscape creates its own challenges. From the vast amount of infrastructure, to getting hundreds of visitors into gardens whilst keeping them pristine in the midst of winter.

The trail has been specially designed for visitors of all ages to enjoy.

What: Christmas at The Botanical Gardens

When: From 29 November – 1 January

Why Visit: Discover a new Christmas light trail set within the beautiful landscape of The Botanic Gardens, created for all the family to enjoy.

Admission: Advance Non-Member Adult from £14.00 - £16.00, Child from £8.00 - £10.00 Advance Family Ticket from £40.00 - £48.00 *

Website: birminghamchristmasgarden.co.uk

#christmasatthebotanicalgardens 

ENDS

For more information please contact:

Melodie Manners | melodie@flamingo-marketing.co.uk | 01637 873379 or 07815 709548

Notes to Editors

*Separate Charges Apply

About the Birmingham Botanical Gardens

There are four glasshouses which range from exotic Tropical House through to Subtropical, Mediterranean and Arid Houses. There is a large lawn in front of the glasshouses with a range of beds and shrubberies around its perimeter. Overall, the character is that of a Victorian public park with a bandstand set in 15 acres (6.1 ha) of landscaped greenery. http://www.birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk/

About Raymond Gubbay Ltd

Founded in 1966 by Raymond Gubbay, Raymond Gubbay Ltd is recognised as being at the forefront of promoting and producing popular classical music, opera, ballet and events in the United Kingdom. Christmas at The Botanical Gardens in one of a series of Christmas light trails which include Christmas at Kew, Christmas at Blenheim, Christmas at Dunham Massey and Christmas at the Botanics (Edinburgh), all managed by Raymond Gubbay Ltd.  Additionally, the company regularly presents over 500 performances each year in London, around the UK and abroad. raymondgubbay.co.uk

About Culture Creative

The design team behind this festive lighting display, which takes its inspiration from Blenheim Palace's vast landscape and history, is Culture Creative, who have previously worked with English Heritage, the National Trust, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Forestry Commission and the National Trust for Scotland.  For more information about Culture Creative please see their website culturecreative.co.uk

* Pricing