BOWHILL will be the venue for a Giant Night Out tonight and tomorrow.
The evening events are the culmination of the Giants in the Forest project, which was launched earlier in the year by Edinburgh-based puppeteers Vision Mechanics.
The creators, regular visitors to the Borders, built enormous heads out of willow and hessian, and seeded and suspended them among trees at sites around Scotland, including Bowhill and Glentress in Peeblesshire.
The Giant Nights Out are 40-minute guided walks with a storyteller and other performers, who take the audience through the forest – transformed by special lighting and sound effects to the giants’ heads.
The aim of the project is to encourage more people to visit forests and to enjoy art in non-traditional settings.
Bowhill’s head ranger Lynsey Menmuir said: “We have been working on the Bowhill project for a number of months now and it has intrigued our visitors who have been to the estate throughout the summer.
“This weekend’s events are incredibly exciting and will be a magical experience for all attending – with lights and sounds bringing our giants, who are nestled away in our woods, to life. It is the perfect grand finale to what has been an incredibly exciting attraction. It’s been a great project which has helped people connect with their communities and the natural environment around them – I am confident that the twilight events will be enjoyed by all the family.”
The evening forest events are part of the Tweed Valley Forest Festival which started last weekend.
Festival organiser Chris Sawers said: “The Giant Nights Out at Glentress (last weekend) were a sell out – I was there on Saturday and loved it – and all the feedback I’ve had is ‘wow, we want more of this’.”
Ms Sawers continued: “I’m hoping the people who couldn’t get tickets for the Giant Nights Out at Glentress will be able to get tickets for Bowhill and that they have as much fun as the people attending Glentress.”
Tours start at Bowhill’s Minstrel Tearoom and run every 20 minutes from 6pm until 8pm, and last approximately 40 minutes. Tickets cost £5 adults, £3 children and £12 for a family of four. The event is not recommended for children under five years old.
Tickets can be purchased in advance from Eastgate Box Office on 01721 725777 and a limited number of tickets will be available on the night. Ticket holders should arrive early and wear warm waterproof clothing and sturdy footwear. A torch is recommended.
For more information, visit www.forest-festival.com and www.bowhill.org