Glowing

It was a dry but slightly overcast day. The usual domestic chores filled the start of the day but then the Gorse Fox had to go to Chichester for an appointment. In a perfect example of Murphy's Law of Public Transport, he watched a bus drive past just as he approached the bus stop, both on the way to Chichester and on the way back.

The Silver Vixen and Gorse Fox hopped in the car and headed across to LA to meet up with Urban-cub and Ellie. We left Cousteau-cub at home, sorting out her packing ready to move to their own flat tomorrow.

With Urban-cub and Ellie, we drove across country, stopping at a little park in Cowfold for Ellie to stretch her legs and have a play on the swings and slides. When she was suitably exercised we headed on to Wakehurst Place.

Wakehurst Place is National Trust location but also houses the Royal Horticultural Society's seed bank. It is a very impressive location, near Haywards Heath. AT this time of year they hold a series of events called "Glow Trail" whereby, come dusk, lights, torches, and lanterns decorate a path through the grounds. We had decided that this would be a great event for Ellie (and frankly, we were looking forward to it also).

The event runs a timed-entry system and we were scheduled on the first intake of the evening. We queued briefly for the gates to open but were soon on our way. Ellie was able to choose a lantern to carry and she trotted off with the three of us behind her. Various lanterns lit the way at knee level, but others, shaped like woodland creatures and birds, festooned the branches of the shrubs and tree. It was really quite magical.

As we wandered down along the paths, various glowing dioramas opened up. Particularly beautiful was the area by the lake, with floating lanterns shaped like large water lilies and sundry other water plants. With their reflection beneath, it quite took the breath away.

One pathway took us past a number of trees which had had willow sculptures threaded through and round them. These were lit in ghostly white and the atmosphere was quite ethereal.

Looping back past a second lake, this one decorated in stars and a huge moon, we headed down through a series of withy tunnels, lit from the outside. The light penetrated through the withy structure and gave a dappled light within which changed as the colours of the lights changed.

Next was a field of flames (the Gorse Fox's description, not an official name). This led us down a path which took us past a collection of specimen trees. Around each tree was a "fairy" circle of burning lamps. As the wind caught them they would dance, first one way, then the next.

The path led us up to a walled garden. Within the formal planting of the walled garden stood further lamps and various items of nature-related sculpture. It was really quite beautiful and the gentle "New Age" music playing in the background made it immensely peaceful, despite the number of visitors.

This was an event to put on the calendar and re-schedule for next year; it was a brilliant evening.

We stopped at The Cowdray Arms for some dinner on the way home. It was a lovely little place with charming staff, and the food was delicious.