More than 90,000 people attended the seasonal light event at Scotland’s leading botanical garden.
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) was brought to life after dark with a million lights and candles helping to create a spectacular after dark winter trail over 37 nights.
The illuminations were part of the attraction’s annual “Christmas at the Botanics” event, which came to a close on Saturday night.
A one-mile trail weaved through the Botanics, using the natural landscape and historic buildings as a backdrop for spellbinding visual effects inspired by the magic of Christmas and the world of plants.
Raoul Curtis-Machin, RBGE Director of Horticulture and Visitor Experience, said: “We’ve been thrilled at the response this year — everyone seems to have loved it. I think people have been blown away by the magical effects.”
Visitors were able to explore a meadow of 2000 white roses, a grove of colourful pampas and a 165-metre long “rainbow hedge” that offered a new perspective on the iconic 72 acre landscape.
Other highlights included a 30-metre tunnel of 35,000 twinkling lights, the attraction’s winter garden lit up by hundreds of stars and two-metre long dragonfly lanterns suspended over the famous pond. Meanwhile, 5700 candles were burnt in a stunning fire garden.
The trail also featured stunning crystal dandelions, giant neon flowers, a meadow of metre-high lit crocuses, illuminated hives hanging from trees and “kinetic fire dancers”, set to a festive soundtrack from Bing Crosby and Michael Bublé to Il Divo and Sinéad O’Connor.
Profits from ticket sales will support the Botanics’ plant research and conservation efforts in Scotland and beyond. Additional income raised will be gifted back to the Garden to fund important conservation work and plant research.
Curtis-Machin added: “The crocus and the pampas grass have been real highlights and we want to build more botanical brilliance for next year.
“The dragon flies were a real surprise for people and there were thousands of pictures taken of the stars in the Rock Garden.
“We want to thank everyone for coming this year, as the ticket money makes it possible for us to carry out vital work in recovering endangered plant species and combating the impacts of climate change in Scotland and around the world.”
