Blenheim at Christmas
14th December 2017
On Thursday, 14 December, skilfully avoiding the worst of the snow and ice, a party of some 50 ACU3A members set off at 4.30 p.m. to Woodstock from Aston Clinton to walk the Christmas Trail in the grounds of Blenheim Palace.
It turned out to be quite a different experience from the one at Kew last year, with much more emphasis on the illumination of the magnificent trees throughout the parkland, punctuated with oases of activity, such as the transformation of the boathouse into the Elves’ Workshop and a spectacular song and light show around a waterfall. In several spots around the park, the natural sloping terrain was used very cleverly to cascade a carpet of small white lights to emulate snowfall, enhanced by the residue of natural snow still present on the ground. Also featured were hundreds of small boats that appeared to glide across a lake to the tune of “We Saw Three Ships Come Sailing In”.
Several small kiosks were stationed along the Trail selling roasted chestnuts, marshmallows and hot drinks to revive the weary and keep out the cold. A walk through an illuminated formal garden, followed by an animation of playful penguins and other cold-climate creatures to delight small children projected onto the side of the palace building itself, concluded the Trail, which took about an hour and a half to complete. After a warming drink and a bite to eat, the party departed Blenheim at 8 p.m. for the journey home.
The company that created the Trail (and also Christmas at Kew last year) is called Culture Creative based in Northumberland, which must have used hundreds of miles of cabling to mount such a wonderful spectacle.. They apparently do a similar thing at Alnwick Gardens. Perhaps an adventure North of Watford is in order for next year, taking in a Christmas market and an overnight stop. RHS Wisley and also Saville Garden at Windsor apparently have Christmas lights events, but obviously on a less grand in scale than Blenheim or Kew. These are just a few suggestions to add to any other ideas for a Christmas outing next year but thank you to Trina organising this one. Most enjoyable.
The ACU3A Movie Making Group, under the technical direction of its Leader, Roger Colebrook, will be putting together a short video of clips and stills to show at a future General Meeting (in the absence of anything more riveting – surely, not possible!).
Janet Cato
December 2017
It turned out to be quite a different experience from the one at Kew last year, with much more emphasis on the illumination of the magnificent trees throughout the parkland, punctuated with oases of activity, such as the transformation of the boathouse into the Elves’ Workshop and a spectacular song and light show around a waterfall. In several spots around the park, the natural sloping terrain was used very cleverly to cascade a carpet of small white lights to emulate snowfall, enhanced by the residue of natural snow still present on the ground. Also featured were hundreds of small boats that appeared to glide across a lake to the tune of “We Saw Three Ships Come Sailing In”.
Several small kiosks were stationed along the Trail selling roasted chestnuts, marshmallows and hot drinks to revive the weary and keep out the cold. A walk through an illuminated formal garden, followed by an animation of playful penguins and other cold-climate creatures to delight small children projected onto the side of the palace building itself, concluded the Trail, which took about an hour and a half to complete. After a warming drink and a bite to eat, the party departed Blenheim at 8 p.m. for the journey home.
The company that created the Trail (and also Christmas at Kew last year) is called Culture Creative based in Northumberland, which must have used hundreds of miles of cabling to mount such a wonderful spectacle.. They apparently do a similar thing at Alnwick Gardens. Perhaps an adventure North of Watford is in order for next year, taking in a Christmas market and an overnight stop. RHS Wisley and also Saville Garden at Windsor apparently have Christmas lights events, but obviously on a less grand in scale than Blenheim or Kew. These are just a few suggestions to add to any other ideas for a Christmas outing next year but thank you to Trina organising this one. Most enjoyable.
The ACU3A Movie Making Group, under the technical direction of its Leader, Roger Colebrook, will be putting together a short video of clips and stills to show at a future General Meeting (in the absence of anything more riveting – surely, not possible!).
Janet Cato
December 2017