Glow Wild: A Ten Year Triumph

Glow Wild: A Ten Year Triumph

For many, winter is a time to bed down green spaces, to nurture beds and bulbs through the colder months, and to pack away garden furniture in favour of warmth and cover. At Wakehurst however, the frosty days and dark nights signal new surprises in the wild landscape. As darkness descends, Wakehurst’s winter spectacle truly comes alive. Glow Wild, the magical winter lantern trail weaving its way through the gardens, has become a fast favourite in the region, and this year marks a major milestone as we celebrate the 10^th anniversary edition. 

Awe and Wonder 

With over 1,500 handcrafted lanterns and huge, bespoke light installations from leading artists, the trail mesmerises young and old alike each year, promising delights and surprises with each turn of the path. For its celebratory year, Glow Wild reflects on awe-inspiring moments in the natural world, from the big to the tiny. There’s epic wildlife, miniscule woodland communities, and a dazzling array of glowing tributes to the weird and wonderful. Head of Public Programmes and Glow Wild Creative Director, Lorraine Lecourtois, wants the 10^th anniversary event to be: “a truly magnificent trail, whilst still recognising what makes Glow Wild special – a creative response to Wakehurst's landscape, where visitors can feel connected with the natural world.” 

Many Hands… 

Lantern Curator, Katherine Morton, manages the creation of the thousand handmade lanterns, and works with a group of volunteers who join together each week to craft the charming structures: “It’s like a little family who share stories, support each other and enjoy using our hands to create over 1500 lanterns” she says. “The volunteers often comment about how therapeutic lantern-making is – the touch of the smooth willow, the shapes you can create, the satisfaction in stretching white tissue paper and the pleasure in creating something beautiful which will be part of something bigger.” Community groups also work with Brighton-based artists SameSky to create large-scale lanterns – a joyful demonstration of how the coming together of people can create truly magnificent pieces. 

With each trail the result of 18 months in the making, it’s no wonder this momentous collective effort brings about emotional moments. Louise looks back on the feeling of being: “bleary-eyed after rigging for two and a half weeks, but pumped with adrenaline, with a team hug to start the day." 

Making Memories 

Glow Wild has found its way into the hearts and traditions not only of the staff, but of people across the South East and beyond. In ten years it’s been a privilege for the Wakehurst team to witness special moments where visitors have chosen the trail as a place to create memories, from the wonder on young children’s faces as they soak in the incredible sensory experience, to the gathering of families spanning generations. For Louise, a standout moment “has to be the marriage proposal under the Tree of Life in 2021, we were all party to this big secret, sorting out champagne, photographers and tissues.” (She said yes!).

Visitors to Glow Wild last year may have encountered a new arrivial in the form of Percy the peacock puppet, who will return to entertain winter wanderers this year. Katherine is heartened by the responses she’s witnessed to her interactive creations: “I love seeing the delight on people’s faces when they are talking, feeding, dancing, or interacting with the puppets. If the pieces bring a smile or make them escape into another world for a moment or two, I feel my work is done.”  

A Decade Of Delight 

It’s certainly a remarkable achievement to have grown Glow Wild from a four-night event to an essential part of the Wakehurst calendar spanning 31 evenings, whilst maintaining it as an in-house operation. For both Katherine and Louise, it’s clear that this union of all the teams at Wakehurst to deliver the trail is what makes it special: “I love how Glow Wild touches all aspects of the gardens’ operation and all the relationships between the teams.” says Louise. “There is no limit to the imagination and ambition,” Katherine says. “I am proud to be part of a little slice of winter magic.”  

But what’s next? Looking to the future, Lorraine comments: “For me, I hope that Glow Wild continues to champion the tradition of craftsmanship and continues to be a well-loved family and community event for years to come.” The dedication and commitment that emanates from the three powerhouses behind the event leaves no doubt in our mind that Glow Wild will be a treat for the ages.  

Don’t miss: flexible tickets. You can now swap or upgrade your tickets up to 72 hours before your visit – available for new and existing bookings!

Book now to reserve your spot at kew.org/glowwild on selected evenings from 23 November 2023 to 1 January 2024, 4.30pm to 10pm (last entry 8.20pm). Quiet sessions are available every night from 4.15pm.

Frances Teehan