From the Arctic to the Himalayas, visitors can follow of a trail of spectacular light installations around the Garden, experiencing the sights and sounds of some of world’s most exotic locations which have played a part in the creation of the Botanics’ Living Collection.
In bygone days, adventurous plant-hunters scoured the globe for the exceptional and the unusual, and brought their experiences and specimens back to the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh to further science, and for the enjoyment of curious visitors.
During this year’s Botanic Lights spectacular, visitors will follow in the footsteps of plant-hunters of the past and their 21st century contemporaries on a journey around the world – in just one evening.
Botanic Lights creates an all-new journey of light around the Garden, themed around exploring some of the forty regions of the world where the Garden’s plants and trees originate, including the US, China, Chile, Nepal and the Tropics, where RBGE’s scientists currently research and undertake important conservation work.
Plant-hunter, George Forrest’s renowned work for RGBE is remembered on the Chinese Hillside, where he appears in hologram form to tell the story of his botanic expeditions to the remote, mountainous Yunnan region of south-west China.
Then, join the trial from the Himalayas, recognised for the work of the Scottish surgeon-naturalist, Dr Francis Buchanan-Hamilton, who documented over one thousand plant species there in the early 1800’s, to California – from where the first seeds of the giant sequoia tree reached Scotland in 1853 – and beyond to the tropical rainforests of the Congo Basin.
Whether you’re a visitor who enjoys learning all the ‘facts’ or one who simply wants to emerge themselves in the spectacular colours and sound, Botanic Lights is a magic night-time journey. If you’re six years old (in body or mind!) dancing in your giant shadow is an outright winner – second only to attaching your own ‘wish’ to the Nepalese strings of prayer flags…
This year’s Botanic Lights is once again produced by Edinburgh-based Unique Events, and created through light, heat, sound scape and visual effects, powered by state-of the-art technology and conceived by lighting designer Grant Anderson. Music comes from Claire McKenzie. and it’s all facilitated by lighting, AV and sound specialists Black Light.
Botanic Lights 2016 runs from 13 October – 6 November, excluding Mondays. Tickets are on sale from:
www.botaniclights.co.uk
Tel:Â 0844 573 8455
In person:Â Fringe Office, 180 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1QS