Bedgebury National Pinetum: Christmas trail lights up Kent forest

Thousands of people are expected to visit a Kent forest this Christmas as a popular light trail returns for the seventh year.

The event takes place on 37 evenings until 1 January with a series of illumination artworks transforming Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest into a winter wonderland.

Installation work began in early October to prepare over a million sparkling lights, decorations and 20 kilometres of electrical cabling for the launch night on Friday.

The trail is redesigned each year and general manager Jon Codd said there will be plenty of surprises: "We follow the same route but you will be met with really magical new installations along the way."

New installations for 2024 include Light a Wish by artists Merav Eitan and Gaston Zahr which depicts dandelion seeds floating through the air, symbolising wishes in flight.

Another debut is Mycelium Network by Stevie Thompson, a glowing display of hundreds of colour-changing mushrooms inspired by the intricate mycelium networks that connect plants underground.

Whilst Nova by Studio Vertigo, is a three-metre-tall sculpture inspired by the mythical Star of the East.

Around 80,000 people are expected to visit the forest near Tunbridge Wells over the next seven weeks.

Mr Codd said: "We start work in February maintaining the paths so they are smooth enough for wheelchair and mobility scooter users.

"There are no steps to navigate and we also put on relax sessions that are less busy with lower lighting to help anybody who might be overwhelmed."

Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is home to a world-leading collection of conifers containing over 12,000 specimen trees and celebrates it's 100th anniversary next year.