150 people braved the rain to see Grin Low Woods illuminated art project
The finale of a community project saw more than 150 people come out and brave the rain and have fun in Buxton’s Grin Low Woods.
Lighting the Woods took place on Saturday, February 21 and was a culmination of art which had been created at workshops where more than 300 people attended.
Led by artists from Stone and Water, Creeping Toad and the Babbling Vagabonds to create birds, insects, bottle lanterns and more from recycled materials.
Groups from the Grapevine, Zink and Space to Explore added more characters and the Babblers and Creeping Toad unearthed still more figures from their stores.
Local poet Rebecca Robinson added poems to the evening with lines from her poems and images providing still more for visitors to explore.
Gordon MacLellan from Creeping Toad and the coordinator of all this creativity, said: “We set out to remind people of wonder.
“We wanted people to remember that our local woods are full of marvels and that all you need to do is to stop and look.
“Yes, we added some amazing creations for Lighting the Woods, but they were there to excite and inspire visitors and to remind them that with or without all our artwork, all you need to do is take time to look and listen and smell.”
The visitors to the woods saw colourful fish swam in lines between mossy logs where fluorescent mice lurked in the twilight.
Bright birds perched on branches while a flock of white, milk-bottle birds fluttered through the bushes.
Stony faces watched from the shadows.
A gang of teddy bears were clustered round a glowing light.
There was even a monster showing a tummy full of shadow puppets and tall tree people looking down over all the visitors.
And there were glowing lights as 80 bottle lanterns crowded under tree roots, grew like flowers beside tree stumps and added a warmth to a cold, wet evening.
Gordon added: “There were families counting birds.
“We had small children looking for trolls.
“People pointing, stopping to stare, despite the rain.
“People were talking, laughing, enjoying a twilight walk through the woods.”
Gordon offered his thanks to the other groups who have supported this project - Buxton Civic Association, High Peak Borough Council and Buxton Crescent Heritage Trust have all contributed to make it a success.