Setting the scene for your wintertime celebrations, Woburn Abbey Gardens held a festive Luminaries Woburnensis event on Saturday 7th December, from 5pm – 10pm.
Over 2000 visitors were able to experience Woburn’s stunning Abbey Gardens in a new light as they walked through the atmospheric grounds by candlelight. With the historic gardens taking on a whole new look after dark, the soft glow of the luminaria lights along pathways, trees and the lake, guided visitors on an adventure.
This unique experience kicked off with exclusive access to the Chinese Dairy veranda – usually out of bounds to the public – where visitors were able to launch a lotus flower lantern onto the lake, creating a stunning spectacle. They were then invited to decorate their own hanging lantern to help guide their way and discover the magic of Woburn Abbey Gardens. Along their route, visitors discovered award-winning ice sculptors Glacial Art, commissioned especially for the event by Her Grace the Duchess of Bedford. In the main area, there were the Woburn Sands Band to listen too whilst snuggling up on beanbags under blankets, enjoying a warming soup or hearty casserole.
Visitors also had the rare opportunity to explore the Hornbeam Maze, with suspended lights guiding their route to the Chinese Pagoda at the centre. The historic Cedar of Lebanon tree, planted over two centuries ago, was the centre piece of a shimmering Tree of Dreams for the event, as visitors are asked to leave their messages for loved ones on glowing paper lanterns.
For more events at Woburn Abbey, click here…
Amazing Ice Sculptures by Glacial Art