A kaleidoscope of more than 200 colourful butterflies is among the highlights in the Botanics.
Papillons is one of the extraordinary new visual effects dazzling families for the first time at this year’s Christmas at the Botanics, now open at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE).
The butterflies, illuminated in blue, white and amber, appear to fly above the heads of visitors and whirl from tree to tree in an “enchanting and mesmerising ballet”.
The installation, by French creative studio Pitaya, is presented for the first time ever this year.
Its world premiere is being jointly staged at the RBGE and at a similar Christmas event at Brooklyn Botanic Garden in New York City.
Designed to highlight the beauty and fragility of nature, it forms one of the spectacles on a weaving mile-long trail bringing the Garden to life after dark until December 30.
Another new feature helping to transform the Garden into “an immersive world of light, colour, and festive cheer” is Night Birds, featuring five oversized birds with neon-lit feathers hovering among the trees.
Chicago-based creator Michael Young imagined the “playful creatures exploring this haven, portraying a celebration of light, life and the magic that connects us to the natural world”.
Elsewhere, a series of four-metre tall LED hearts form a Heart Arch Walk, dubbed a picture-perfect “tunnel of love”.
Other highlights include the 39-metre long Christmas Cathedral, now featuring thousands of “twinkling lights”, over 10,000 fibre optic blades making up a Meadow of Light and “My Favourite Tree” with 720 metres of neon lights.
Visitors to this year’s trail are accompanied by a festive soundtrack featuring artists such as Kelly Clarkson, Michael Bublé, Wham!, and Enya, as well as favourites by John Williams, including “Somewhere in My Memory” from the Home Alone soundtrack and the “Flying Theme” from E.T.
Zoe Bottrell, Managing Director of creative producers Culture Creative, said: “We have some very exciting UK and world firsts this year, together with some familiar family favourites and more show moments than ever before.
“We are using the beautiful landscape of the Garden to present a roller coaster ride of colour palette, emotion and pace.
“Some installations are soft and contemplative and others bright and brash and loud. Some are sculpturally striking and some are a showpiece of light to music, all fitting into the landscape.”
Last year, the trail welcomed over 92,000 visitors. This year’s trail has once again been carefully designed with sustainability in mind, with installations low in energy usage and over 98% of lights used LED, lit by the garden’s main power supply to remove the need for generators.
Audience area lighting is only used where necessary for public safety, while food and drink offerings are all either recyclable or compostable.
RBGE spokeswoman Paula Bushell said: “We are absolutely committed to providing what is a spectacular experience but also something that enhances people’s experience of being in nature. It is a unique experience to enjoy the garden after dark.”
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