Popular annual illuminated night time walks can still go ahead

Great British Life: The RHS has put in place a number of measures to ensure everyone can enjoy the evening trails with confidence. Photo: RHS/Guy HarropThe RHS has put in place a number of measures to ensure everyone can enjoy the evening trails with confidence. Photo: RHS/Guy Harrop (Image: © RHS)

A popular Devon night time event can continue to take place during Lockdown 2 after the Government gave organisers the thumbs up to continue.

Following Government advice, RHS Rosemoor near Great Torrington has announced it will be able to keep its gardens open late and continue to run its Glow outdoor illuminations event on selected dates from 19 November 2020 to 2 January 2021.

The Glow evenings at RHS gardens nationwide will allow people to visit safely after work and school, to walk in the fresh air and enjoy nature lit up to benefit their physical and mental wellbeing.

The winter at the Garden Rosemoor in Devon is always one of the most beautiful sights in all seasons. In addition to its day-time beauty, once again visitors can see the garden transformed at night too by innovative colour-changing lighting into a magical festive trail around the trees, shrubs, water features and sculptures.

Great British Life: The popular Glow events at RHS Rosemoor have been allowed to continue. Photo: RHS/Guy HarropThe popular Glow events at RHS Rosemoor have been allowed to continue. Photo: RHS/Guy Harrop (Image: © RHS)

With the safety of visitors and staff its foremost priority in these challenging times, the RHS has put in place a number of measures to ensure everyone can enjoy the evening trails with confidence. These include mandatory advance booking, one-way routes around the gardens and limits on numbers at any one time. All four RHS Gardens have recently been awarded Visit England’s ‘Good to Go’ certification, an industry-standard mark of reassurance that they are carefully following all the latest government guidance on Covid-19.

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Great British Life: RHS Rosemoor has announced it will be able to run its Glow outdoor illuminations event. Photo: RHS/Guy HarropRHS Rosemoor has announced it will be able to run its Glow outdoor illuminations event. Photo: RHS/Guy Harrop (Image: © RHS)

“We are thrilled to be able to welcome our visitors to Rosemoor for Glow this year, and we can’t wait to share the beautiful new displays we have planned,” says Helena Pettit, RHS Director of Gardens and Shows. “Glow is a highlight of the winter months for us and our visitors, and we have worked hard to ensure that these will be fun, enchanting and safe evening trails for all the family.”

Taking visitors along a new (one-way) route, Rosemoor Glow 2020 will include the Winter Garden (back by popular demand), the Cool Garden with its rippling water rills, the Long Borders, through the Cottage Garden for the first time and once again down to The Lake with its incredible reflections. Also for the first time, there will be interactive sections as well as a few ‘light’ surprises along the way.

During Glow evenings the gardens will be open until 8pm to maximise the effects of the lighting and on those days, normal garden entry includes Glow (free for RHS members). In this way you can enjoy a full day out seeing the gardens and sculptures by day and then also Rosemoor Glow by night.

Hot and cold refreshments will be available at various points around the trail and the Rosemoor Garden Centre will also remain open until 8pm to enable people to carry on gardening at this important time of year for planting.

Great British Life: The Glow evenings at RHS gardens nationwide will allow people to visit safely after work and school. Photo: RHS/Guy HarropThe Glow evenings at RHS gardens nationwide will allow people to visit safely after work and school. Photo: RHS/Guy Harrop (Image: © RHS)

Rosemoor’s extremely popular annual Winter Sculpture Exhibition will be up and running from 12 November to 31 January. Last year, record numbers of visitors enjoyed the eclectic mix of exhibits that are set against the wonderful winter garden as a backdrop. This year, the exhibition has been freshened up with a high proportion of new artists. Most of the sculptures featured in the exhibition are for sale.

Tickets for Glow at all RHS Gardens must be booked online in advance. Routes are fully accessible.

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