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Explore the magic of Ashridge House Illuminated with our Our Head Gardener, Zora Tyrone.
With a deep knowledge of the grounds, Zora shares her insights into what makes or light trail so enchanting. From the careful planning of displays to the challenges of blending history and Christmas, this interview offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the light trail’s creation within our Grade II* listed gardens.
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What are your overall impressions of the light trail and how it showcases our Grade II* listed gardens?
The illuminations really do feel part of the garden. The installations are fun but still show off key features of the garden. The Rose Garden leads to the Countess’s Flower Garden and at this time of year they have been put to bed, now they are full of colour. The music and projection on the house bring a moment to stop and appreciate the House and Garden as a whole.
Were there any specific plants, trees, or garden features you were keen to see incorporated into the trail? If so, how did SLX achieve this?
The illumination of our trees is stunning from our majestic oaks to the cedars and avenues in the Southern Garden SLX have captured what looks breathtaking in daylight and made it magical at night. The clever use of colour shows how truly spectacular our trees are no matter what time of year. My personal favourite is the perfectly Christmas tree shaped metasequoia near the chapel.
Do you have a favourite section or installation on the trail? What about it stands out to you?
The formal gardens are lit beautifully, reflecting the grandeur and social lifestyle of the Dukes and Earls who once graced the grounds. Monk’s Garden took my breath away, so delicate yet incredibly impactful replicating the design of our summer bedding display.
How do you think this event changes how visitors experience and appreciate the gardens during the winter season?
Our trees really do steal the show in winter. Our light trail takes you in to the first part of the Southern Garden, but the grounds extends much further. The tree lined avenues lead you to our snowdrop covered Tudor Mound and Repton’s thatched Arbour perfect to sit and enjoy the peace and quiet. The walk back to the Bakehouse café takes you through the formal areas where daffodils will be poking though in readiness for the cheerful spring displays.
What has been the most rewarding (or challenging) part of preparing the gardens for the light trail?
Hearing how much visitors have enjoyed the illuminations makes all the hard work that goes into the planning and preparation worthwhile. It’s really good to see a diverse mix of visitors every night laughing and making memories. The child who wanted to watch the Fire and Fountains display for 3rd time made me smile, he was completely mesmerised. This year we have dog friendly nights so I’ll be bring Olive the Dog when we come with the family.
2024 has been a very wet year. This has made moving around the grounds to install the displays tricky at times as the ground is very soft. We took the decision to lay recycled rubber matting along the route in case we get even more rain to limit the slippery nature of grass paths. This will be lifted in January and stored until it is needed.