The Enchanted Forest will be spreading its roots this autumn thanks to funding from the Year of Natural Scotland.
The investment is intended to boost the event’s marketing campaign by helping it to reach to the northern English market. The autumn spectacle, which takes place in October every year, has become a mainstay of Scotland’s tourism calendar.
Founded in 2002, with just 3,000 visitors attending in its first year, the event now attracts more than ten times that number, with almost 31,000 visiting the show last year.
It is now organised by Highland Perthshire Community Interest Company under the Perthshire Big Tree Country brand.
The 2013 show “absorb” has been created by Scottish lighting designers Kate Bonney and Simon Hayes, with music by RJ McConnell, which includes a specially-commissioned orchestral piece in collaboration with composer Jon Beales.
“The event has always attracted visitors from the North East of England so it was a clear area for us to identify as having potential for growth,” said marketing manager Tricia Fox.
“We’re expecting over 32,000 visitors to attend the event this year and we very much welcome being able to extend our message to a brand new audience.
“If you think about it, in just three short hours you can travel by train from the centre of Newcastle to the heart of an Enchanted Forest in Scotland that’s got to be worth spreading the word about.”
Later this month the event will compete for the titles of Scotland’s Best Cultural Event and Best Large Event, and organisers are hoping for a reprise of their success in 2011, when they took home several awards.
Paul Bush, chief operating officer for EventScotland, added: “We are delighted to support the Enchanted Forest as part of the Year of Natural Scotland 2013. Visual artists continue to be inspired by our country’s unique natural heritage and the Enchanted Forest is set to be a stunning celebration of art in nature that shows Scotland is the perfect stage for events.”