Yahoo TV

STORY: :: London's Kew Gardens switches on its annual festive light trail

:: London, England

:: Adam Thow, Head of Commercial Activities, Kew Gardens

''So this is the 12th year of 'Christmas at Kew', and it's more popular than ever. We first started the trail as a way of getting people to come to the gardens at the darkest, coldest time of the year. And now hundreds of thousands of people come every year to enjoy the lights, to soak up the atmosphere of 'Christmas at Kew'.''

''One of the most important aspects of 'Christmas at Kew' is for people to bond with nature. The trees are some of the biggest stars of the show. And it's all about, you know, the wonder of nature, the architecture of the trees. Lots of people list 'Christmas at Kew' as their first experience of coming to Kew and they see this wonderful landscape in the nighttime, we hope it makes them come back again and again. And although it's kind of light touch and it's a fun event, we do weave sustainability stories throughout 'Christmas at Kew'. So the message is there for people to take away and think about what they can do.''

Back for a 12th year, 'Christmas at Kew’ includes some favourites such as the light show at Palm House as well a couple of brand new installations.

''We first started the trail as a way of getting people to come to the gardens at the darkest, coldest time of the year. And now hundreds of thousands of people come every year to enjoy the lights ... (and) atmosphere,'' Adam Thow, Head of Commercial Activities at Kew Gardens said at the launch on Tuesday (November 12).

Thow went on to explain that although the event is 'fun' - the botanical gardens, which were first opened in 1759 and today are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, hope the trail offers a link to the natural world.

''One of the most important aspects of 'Christmas at Kew' is for people to bond with nature. The trees are some of the biggest stars of the show,'' Thow said.

''It's all about the wonder of nature, the architecture of the trees.''

Opening to the public on Wednesday (November 13), 'Christmas at Kew' runs until Sunday January 5, 2025.