{"id":66336,"date":"2026-08-27T17:53:32","date_gmt":"2026-08-27T16:53:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/midsussex\/?p=66336"},"modified":"2026-08-27T17:55:13","modified_gmt":"2026-08-27T16:55:13","slug":"five-metre-iceberg-lands-at-kew-wakehurst-as-glow-wild-unveils-its-most-spectacular-winter-light-trail-yet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/midsussex\/2026\/08\/27\/five-metre-iceberg-lands-at-kew-wakehurst-as-glow-wild-unveils-its-most-spectacular-winter-light-trail-yet\/","title":{"rendered":"Five-metre iceberg lands at Kew Wakehurst as Glow Wild unveils its most spectacular winter light trail yet"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"66336\" class=\"elementor elementor-66336\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-807125b e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"807125b\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-66bcc99 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"66bcc99\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Thursday\u00a026\u00a0November\u00a0to\u00a0Saturday 2 January\u00a0(selected evenings)\u00a0<br \/><span data-contrast=\"none\">Tickets on sale now:\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/74n5c4m7.r.eu-west-1.awstrack.me\/L0\/http:%2F%2Fwww.kew.org%2Fglowwild%3Futm_source=press%26utm_medium=press%26utm_content=glowwildpr%26utm_campaign=w-press\/1\/010201a043001ecd-af2a558c-805f-4f78-8141-e857b14b0730-000000\/r-gZ9qidg8VcQbAmx8OYucYkMIg=473\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">www.kew.org\/glowwild<\/span><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<br \/><span data-contrast=\"none\">Prices from \u00a312.70\u00a0(inc. booking fee): early-bird discounts available until 31 August<\/span>\u00a0<br \/><span data-contrast=\"none\">Under 4s go free<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\"><strong>Highlights:<\/strong><\/span><\/p><ul><li><strong><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Giant iceberg\u00a0<\/span>reaching\u00a0towards\u00a0five metres\u00a0high\u00a0forms Glow Wild\u2019s tallest lantern to date, complete with\u00a0a colony of\u00a0penguins perched on top<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Over 2000 handcrafted lanterns illuminate the wild botanic garden, including extraordinary creatures, plants and landscapes created using 140kg of willow <\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Award-winning artists and over\u00a0200\u00a0volunteers\u00a0create series of new installations exclusively for Glow Wild, bringing to life this year\u2019s theme,\u00a0<em><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In Search of Nature\u2019s Gifts<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Visitors embark on an expedition through some of the world\u2019s most remote environments, inspired by Kew\u2019s global work to explore and protect plant and fungal diversity<\/strong><\/li><\/ul><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Kew\u00a0Wakehurst\u2019s\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/74n5c4m7.r.eu-west-1.awstrack.me\/L0\/http:%2F%2Fwww.kew.org%2Fglowwild%3Futm_source=press%26utm_medium=press%26utm_content=glowwildpr%26utm_campaign=w-press\/2\/010201a043001ecd-af2a558c-805f-4f78-8141-e857b14b0730-000000\/_3NES2nn-y2du8fb8jBslblF2H8=473\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">Glow Wild<\/span><\/a>\u00a0returns this\u00a0festive season\u00a0with its\u00a0<span data-contrast=\"none\">most ambitious trail yet<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">,\u00a0taking visitors across\u00a0uncharted\u00a0waters to\u00a0polar landscapes and into the wild.<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Running on selected evenings from\u00a0Thursday 26\u00a0November to Saturday 2 January\u00a02027, Glow Wild\u00a0invites explorers of all ages to set out on an\u00a0after-dark expedition\u00a0for a\u00a0night\u00a0of discovery,\u00a0spectacle and festive escapism.<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\"><strong>Record-breaking feats<\/strong><\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\"><strong>Now in its 13th year<\/strong><\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">, Glow Wild is\u00a0again\u00a0raising the bar for 2026 with an extraordinary new collection of large-scale installations and artworks created exclusively for\u00a0Kew\u00a0Wakehurst.<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\"><strong>At\u00a0almost\u00a0five metres high,<\/strong><\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">a\u00a0giant\u00a0illuminated\u00a0iceberg will become<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Glow Wild\u2019s tallest lantern to date<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">,\u00a0forming part of\u00a0a dramatic\u00a0polar\u00a0landscape\u00a0from artist\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Kerith Ogden<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">.\u00a0Featuring\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">68 penguins and\u00a01,000 fish<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">,\u00a0Ogden\u2019s\u00a0polar region will come alive\u00a0under\u00a0a\u00a0dancing Aurora\u00a0Australis\u00a0lights\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">commission from The Colour Project.<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong><span data-contrast=\"none\">Glow Wild Producer, Louise Burton says:<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\"><em>\u201cGlow Wild is a chance to experience nature on an extraordinary scale. This\u00a0evocative festive\u00a0trail takes inspiration from the spirit of\u00a0discovery\u00a0that drives Kew\u2019s scientists, whose work is helping us understand the natural world, uncover its hidden\u00a0wonders\u00a0and find solutions to the challenges facing our planet. We hope visitors leave feeling\u00a0awe and wonder for\u00a0the incredible world around them, that nature is a gift\u00a0\u2013 and\u00a0we all\u00a0need to protect it.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\"><strong>The science behind the spectacle<\/strong><\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Voyaging from\u00a0pole to pole,\u00a0visitors will\u00a0discover\u00a0another of the trail\u2019s standout moments\u00a0in\u00a0Michelle Dufaur\u2019s\u00a0astonishing\u00a0Alpine flower\u00a0carpet,\u00a0created using\u00a02,500\u00a0handmade\u00a0petals. Inspired by\u00a0the remarkable plants that survive in some of the world\u2019s most remote environments, the installation\u00a0reflects on the critical conservation work of Kew scientists to safeguard Arctic plants.<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Following the\u00a0scientists\u2019\u00a0recent seed-collecting expedition to\u00a0Disko Island, Greenland,\u00a0the\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/74n5c4m7.r.eu-west-1.awstrack.me\/L0\/https:%2F%2Fwww.kew.org%2Fwakehurst%2Fwhats-at-wakehurst%2Fmillennium-seed-bank%3Futm_source=press%26utm_medium=press%26utm_content=glowwildpr%26utm_campaign=w-press\/1\/010201a043001ecd-af2a558c-805f-4f78-8141-e857b14b0730-000000\/zVS3c4JSpPA5FwlZ3pjk8-kg0OQ=473\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">Millennium Seed Bank<\/span><\/a>\u00a0now houses\u00a0<span data-contrast=\"none\">24\u00a0Arctic\u00a0species and subspecies<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">.\u00a0With\u00a0northern\u00a0regions\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">warming\u00a0nearly<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">three\u00a0times\u00a0faster than the global average<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0more important than ever\u00a0to protect\u00a0species\u00a0growing in these extreme environments.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><strong>Where nature and technology\u00a0create a visual spectacle<\/strong><\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">The trail culminates with one of Wakehurst\u2019s most impressive transformations, as the historic Mansion is illuminated by\u00a0a bespoke projection from artist Amanda Duncan\u00a0\u2013\u00a0her debut commission for Glow Wild. In\u00a0Murmurations, birds, fish, insects,\u00a0stars\u00a0and seeds will dance across the building\u2019s fa\u00e7ade, bringing together the many natural wonders\u00a0encountered\u00a0along the trail and forming a breathtaking finale against the night sky.<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">A seamless blend of immersive technologies, including LED displays,\u00a0hologauze\u00a0effects and laser projections\u00a0will all\u00a0be\u00a0intricately designed into the installations to enhance the visual spectacle for visitors.<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\"><strong>A culture of community<\/strong><\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Local\u00a0community groups\u00a0make a significant contribution to\u00a0the Glow Wild experience, with\u00a0lanterns throughout the trail and\u00a0a new\u00a0\u2018Village of Voices\u2019\u00a0lantern exhibition\u00a0forming the closing installation.\u00a0Each lantern is a personal reflection on nature\u2019s gifts; a poignant\u00a0collection that connects the landscape to its wider community.<\/span><\/p><p><strong><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Glow Wild Trail Curator, Katherine Morton says:<\/span><\/strong><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><em>&#8220;Glow Wild\u00a0also unites\u00a0an extraordinary community of volunteers who give their time, creativity and care throughout the year.\u00a0We\u2019ve\u00a0had the privilege of working with people of all ages and backgrounds, from art students in Brighton\u00a0and\u00a0climate ambassadors in Peacehaven\u00a0to\u00a0family support networks\u00a0and\u00a0the over 65s.\u00a0\u00a0Their work is woven throughout Glow Wild and is one of the things that makes the experience uniquely Wakehurst.&#8221;<\/em><\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Eagle-eyed visitors will spot\u00a0both\u00a0a whale and\u00a0a\u00a0pink raven lantern on this year\u2019s trail. These are the two winning entrants from a\u00a0design competition\u00a0run in collaboration with the\u00a0East Sussex\u00a0College group.<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\"><strong>Glow Wild runs from 26\u00a0November 2026 to 2 January 2027 at\u00a0Kew\u00a0Wakehurst, Sussex. Tickets are on sale now.<\/strong><\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><em><span style=\"font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;\">Images (clockwise): Simulation image of The Elemental Willow by Ithaca; Illustration by Kerith Ogden; Simulation\u00a0image by OGE Group;\u00a0Glow Wild at Wakehurst, Ollie Dixon \u00a9 RBG Kew; Simulation Image of The Moonbeam Gatherer by Pyro Studio\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Thursday\u00a026\u00a0November\u00a0to\u00a0Saturday 2 January\u00a0(selected evenings)\u00a0Tickets on sale now:\u00a0www.kew.org\/glowwild\u00a0\u00a0Prices from \u00a312.70\u00a0(inc. booking fee): early-bird discounts available until 31 August\u00a0Under 4s go free \u00a0 Highlights: Giant iceberg\u00a0reaching\u00a0towards\u00a0five metres\u00a0high\u00a0forms Glow Wild\u2019s tallest lantern to date, complete with\u00a0a colony of\u00a0penguins perched on top Over 2000 handcrafted lanterns illuminate the wild botanic garden, including extraordinary creatures, plants and landscapes created using [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":66337,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1393],"tags":[],"directory-category":[],"event_categories":[],"class_list":["post-66336","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-illuminated-trail-events"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-09-03 20:41:34","action":"change-status","newStatus":"trash","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/midsussex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66336","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/midsussex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/midsussex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/midsussex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/midsussex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=66336"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/midsussex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66336\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":66341,"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/midsussex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66336\/revisions\/66341"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/midsussex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/66337"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/midsussex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=66336"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/midsussex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=66336"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/midsussex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=66336"},{"taxonomy":"directory-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/midsussex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/directory-category?post=66336"},{"taxonomy":"event_categories","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/midsussex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/event_categories?post=66336"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}