A volunteer in Highland Perthshire has been responsible for ensuring Highland Perthshire pupils most in need have been fed and clothed since the pandemic through the formation of charitable body, the Upper Tay Anti-Poverty Support Group.

Along with those in her church, Judy Ewer saw a need to help those in her community who were really struggling financially. Starting with a whip round in her church to help those desperately in need, Judy realised a more permanent solution was required for accessing funds that could be distributed to people in her community who really needed the support.

Covering a mostly rural area, stretching from Logierait, Ballinluig, Grandtully to Aberfeldy, Dull and Weem, the Upper Tay Anti-Poverty Support Group has been able to raise £40,000 to date through various grants and funds, including £5,000 from the Enchanted Forest Community Trust fund. All the money has been distributed to people in need in the region. According to the Local Child Poverty Action Report 2022/23, produced by Perth and Kinross Council and NHS Tayside, 5,914 children (21.9%) in Perth and Kinross are living in relative poverty.

The Upper Tay Anti-Poverty working group includes representatives from local churches, schools, the community warden, and other support groups such as Christians Against Poverty and Breathe Youth Project. The group meets regularly to determine what the needs are and where the funding should go. They raise funds for particular needs, such as laptops for Ukrainians who have moved to Highland Perthshire and recently, they held a bring-and-buy sale for flood victims living in Ballinluig, raising over £2,300.

Children at Breadalbane Academy are just one of the groups and individuals who have been able to benefit from the financial support offered by the Upper Tay Anti-Poverty Support Group, which has allowed the school to provide breakfast for pupils who aren’t able to get it at home, called ‘soft start’; supplied food vouchers direct to families most in need and provided a bank of spare PE kit for the school so those who can’t afford it don’t have to suffer the stigma. Children have also been supported on an individual basis according to need, such as those who need bed clothing.

During the summer holidays, the Upper Tay Anti-Poverty support group has funded places for children to attend outdoor courses at Beyond Adventure and Wee Adventures, for those families who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford it.

Anna Glover, Principal Teacher of Support at Breadalbane Academy, said: “The funds provided by the Upper Tay Anti-Poverty Support Group has helped us to support pupils at the start of the school day, ensuring they receive a good breakfast to set them up ready for learning. They have basically helped us to enable pupils to attend school, by providing essential items such as school uniform that some families cannot afford. For instance, pupils can help themselves to clothes for PE out of a PE locker we have at school. There are no questions asked and pupils do not have to suffer the stigma of not having the appropriate school uniform. We are very grateful for their support.”

Ross Dempster, Managing Director of Beyond Adventure, said: “The Upper Tay Anti-Poverty Group is an essential service in our local community that strives to ensure that every child gets equal opportunity, no matter what their situation is. For the last two years they have secured funding to allow Beyond Adventure to run activity days for local kids that would otherwise not get the chance to explore the outdoors with us. Organising everything from lunches to making sure the children have the correct clothing for the outdoors, they are truly an organisation that cares. The kids that come out on activity with us are fantastic, they are always fun filled days that will be the highlight of the school holidays for many of them!”

Nela Popovic, Executive Director of The Enchanted Forest Community Trust, the charitable organisation behind Scotland’s favourite sound and light show, The Enchanted Forest, and one of the sources of funding for the Upper Tay Anti-Poverty Support Group, said: “We’re delighted to have been able to support the Upper Tay Anti-Poverty Support Group with finance which has really been making a difference to those most in need in the Highland Perthshire area. Our desire is that the Enchanted Forest Community Fund is a force for good, creating a lasting positive impact and legacy within the community in which the event has called its home for the last twenty-plus years.”

The Enchanted Forest Community Trust has now launched its 2024 Community Fund and is accepting applications from registered charities and community interest companies (CICs) in the Highland Perthshire area. To download an application form, please visit: www.enchantedforest.org.uk. Completed application forms should be returned no later than 31 March 2024.

 

The Enchanted Forest Community Trust, the charitable organisation behind Scotland’s favourite sound and light show, The Enchanted Forest, has launched its 2024 Community Fund and is now accepting applications from registered charities and community interest companies (CICs) in the Highland Perthshire area.

The Fund was set up by The Enchanted Forest Community Trust in 2015 to redistribute the proceeds from the annual event to the local community in Pitlochry and the wider Highland Perthshire area. Since that time The Enchanted Forest Community Trust has reinvested over £325,200 back into the region, making a lasting positive impact by benefitting more than 150 local community groups, projects, and charities.

This year the fund is open to registered charities and community interest companies (CICs) only, who can apply for up to £10,000 from the fund to finance projects within Highland Perthshire, via an application form available on The Enchanted Forest website. The Enchanted Forest Community Trust will especially welcome applications from projects that are focused on helping people in need with the cost of living crisis in the Highland Perthshire area, help with battling child poverty and focus on child welfare and increase inclusion, enablement, independence, mental health and wellbeing. The Trust will also be looking for projects which increase access to employment, volunteering, learning, culture, sport, and leisure opportunities and aim to improve infrastructure which benefits the community and promotes sustainability through best practices.

Gareth Ruddock, Chief Executive at CheckIN Works and Giraffe Trading, received funding from the Enchanted Forest Community Fund in 2023, which had a specific focus on applications that helped tackle poverty in the region and addressed cost of living challenges.  Gareth commented: “The funding from the Enchanted Forest Community Trust has allowed us to continue to support people in Highland Perthshire through making and distributing healthy, home-made style meals for free to households in need. These meals are made by our dedicated team of staff and volunteers, supporting autistic people and people with learning disabilities to learn essential life skills and socialisation.”

Another charity that the Enchanted Forest Community Fund has supported is SiMBA, a charity which exists to respond to the needs of those affected by the loss of a baby. This is done through the delivery of core services, providing support to families in a way that is meaningful for them and reaches wherever they are on their journey after the loss of their baby. The money has helped SiMBA to continue to give bereaved parents in Perth and Kinross memory boxes, which help them to remember their child who has died.

Vanessa Rhazali, Head of Fundraising and Communications at SiMBA commented: “The funding we received from the Enchanted Forest Community Fund enabled us to gift 50 bereaved families a precious Memory Box after a devastating loss so they had precious memories of their baby. In the aftermath of their loss, the whole family gains comfort and strength by sharing and discussing the contents of their baby’s Memory Box, which includes hand and footprints, a wisp of baby’s hair, a tealight candle, a birth acknowledgement, a pair of tiny, knitted teddies and blankets, a supportive letter from another bereaved parent and a children’s book to read to the baby and later to baby’s siblings. They are meticulously put together by our dedicated volunteers with care and compassion. We are so grateful to the Enchanted Forest Community Fund for believing in our work and their support in directly comforting bereaved parents in this unique way. Thank you!”

Nela Popovic, Executive Director of The Enchanted Forest Community Trust, said: “We’re delighted to be able to give back to the local Highland Perthshire community every year through the Enchanted Forest Community Fund, all made possible because of the continued success of The Enchanted Forest show. The support of the local community who recognise the importance of the event to the region is invaluable.

“Our desire is that the Enchanted Forest Community Fund is a force for good, creating a lasting positive impact and legacy within the community in which the event has called its home for the last twenty-plus years. It’s fantastic to see this vision come to life through the many charities and community groups we have supported over the years. Essentially it’s our way of saying a big thank you to those who have so graciously supported the event from day one. We look forward to receiving applications for the 2024 Enchanted Forest Community Fund.”

Successful applicants will be asked to provide a report to The Enchanted Forest Community Trust on how they have used the money in relation to their request.

To download an application form, please visit: www.enchantedforest.org.uk. Completed application forms should be returned no later than 31 March 2024.

Scotland’s favourite sound and light show, The Enchanted Forest, is to feature on BBC One this December as part of a new Christmas cookery show with national treasure Mary Berry, entitled ‘Mary’s Highland Christmas.’

The legendary cook paid a visit to The Enchanted Forest back in October to film for an episode in the festive series, with staff sworn to secrecy about her visit. While at the event, Mary enjoyed a short walk around the forest, experiencing the beautiful lights and enjoying a cup of luxury hot chocolate and marshmallows by the fire to warm up afterwards.

The show sees Mary traveling to the Highlands on a winter break, cooking up some indulgent dishes that can be enjoyed at any time over the festive season. The series is particularly poignant and meaningful for Mary as her mother hailed from Highland Scotland. Audiences will have the opportunity to recreate some of Mary’s favourite Christmas dishes, as well as those steeped in Scottish tradition such as a Cranachan wreath, indulgent cheese fondue and her classic Buche de Noel.

The series also features Mary enjoying some magical days out with friends, including reindeer herding, to enjoying Christmas carollers and a traditional ceilidh, also filmed in Highland Perthshire, to experiencing the dazzling display and delights of Scotland’s favourite sound and light show, The Enchanted Forest.

Mary Berry said: “Christmas in Scotland is the biggest treat, my mother and her family were Scottish so it is a special place for me. The festive holidays are all about sharing special times with friends and family and so what better way than cooking some of my favourite dishes with a traditional Scottish twist. Joined by special guests and surrounded by beautiful scenery, these are recipes which can be used all over the festive season and I can’t wait to share Mary’s Berry’s Christmas with BBC One viewers.”

Nela Popovic, executive director of The Enchanted Forest Community Trust, said: “Our team were delighted to welcome Mary Berry along to the event this year and there was a real buzz on site when the audience realised who it was that was walking along the path on the night as we’d all been sworn to secrecy by the film crew as the show hadn’t been announced yet by the BBC. Mary was an absolute delight to host, spoke to a number of the team about the charities in the community that the event supports, and commented that she thoroughly enjoyed her time at the show. We can’t wait to see the episode when it airs in December!

“We’re also pleased to share that for those curious to see our award winning show, tickets for the 2024 event are now on sale at 2023 prices for a limited time until the end of December.”

Mary’s Highland Christmas will air in December and will be shown on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. It will be broadcast on PBS in the USA on 18th December.

28th October

Dear Mr Wild,

I am the Executive Director of The Enchanted Forest in Pitlochry, one of Scotland’s major events and just one of the businesses that has been severely impacted by the works SGN and your subcontractors are currently undertaking on the A9. The Enchanted Forest is run by a Charitable Trust and is a not for profit organisation.

I am writing to you today to ask that you immediately suspend the roadworks on the A9 main trunk road in light of the significant disruption they are causing, and review your planning approach for future works. This region has been severely impacted by recent weather conditions, closing or impeding a number of alternative routes and the roadworks are simply exacerbating this, making a bad situation worse. This should have been addressed as part of your planning and risk assessment process for these works and it is patently clear it was not.

I am terribly disappointed and frustrated at the lack of planning, consultation and the severe delays our customers, team and staff are facing which are not only impacting our event but also many businesses in our community.

The Enchanted Forest has been running for 21 years and brings over 80k visitors to Pitlochry during this 5 week period making October the busiest tourism month for Pitlochry in the twelve month calendar year. This is information that is widely available and, frankly, should have been picked up by the planning team who have allegedly worked for a full twelve months on your roadworks project and decided to move it to the busiest tourism month of the year to avoid, well, peak tourist season.

I am likewise baffled that your team, subcontractor or BEAR never once reached out to us to consult on this issue either in the planning stages or certainly not now as we face hundreds of disgruntled customers every day, unable to reach us, operational disruption with our transfer buses unable to get to Pitlochry as well as team members stuck in hour long tailbacks, not to mention the impact on emergency response times.

Your team on social media and the physical information boards keep blindly churning out standard messaging that the delays are only between 20 and 30mins, but our visitors and general population in the area tell us a very different story. On Friday 27th October, for instance, our buses and staff were stuck in the traffic caused by your works for over 2 hours, with some of our visitors waiting with young starving children in some instances for over 3 hours.

They are looking for us to take action and offer them refunds for the event they couldn’t get to – at a direct cost impact to the charity that runs the event. Can you please tell me why we be paying for your teams lack of planning acumen and failures to solve problems in a timely manner? This challenge is wholly outwith our control, and is SGN’s issue to fix.

The delays SGN are causing with these roadworks on the A9 are currently impacting our excellent reputation, our vital ticketing income, on site catering and merchandise income, and are putting an additional financial strain on a charity whose sole income is generated by this annual event, is already recovering from two fallow years due to COVID, and whose primary purpose is to share its surpluses with local charities and local causes. The current situation is currently having a direct impact on us being able to fulfil that purpose.

Mr Wild, please explain to me what immediate actions you will be taking to ensure these delays don’t occur over the next 9 days whilst our event continues to run?

Please also explain to me what you propose as a solution to the thousands of visitors who bought tickets from us in good faith, expecting to attend – in fact endeavouring to attend – and who have now lost their hard earned money because they were unable to get through your organisation’s roadworks.

Please explain to me why no-one from SGN have even attempted to contact us and our team, have been forced to communicate with your organisation solely through twitter posts, most of which are being ignored?

I am available to speak to you today on [number included in original letter] and, out of courtesy, I would like a call so we can further discuss what actions you will be taking.

Yours Sincerely

Nela Popovic

The Enchanted Forest | Executive Director

Organisers of The Enchanted Forest, Pitlochry, have confirmed that  the event will re-open to the public tonight, Saturday 21st October.

Nela Popovic, executive director of The Enchanted Forest commented:

“The last few days have been very challenging for our team many of whom have spent the last 24 hours clearing the forest up after Storm Babet, and making sure our lighting installations were still functioning properly.

Our operations team met on site this morning with relevant stakeholders to assess conditions and they have agreed that we are safe to re-open the show tonight.

While we are very relieved that we can re-open this evening, we are still acutely aware that there are Yellow, Amber and Red Weather Warnings still in place for other parts of the country today and we have put additional measures in place for those customers affected by these warnings to transfer their tickets to new dates.

I’d urge anyone due to attend tonight to check our website for the most up to date guidance, and to heed travel warnings specific to their local area, and to only travel if it is genuinely safe to do so.

I’d also like to personally thank the small army of people and local businesses who have come together over the last few days, in very challenging conditions, to make the re-opening of the event possible and we look forward to welcoming people back to The Enchanted Forest tonight.”

Scotland’s favourite sound and light show, The Enchanted Forest, has launched its first children’s book telling the story behind this year’s show theme, From the Deep, with all income from sales of the book going to The Enchanted Forest Community Trust.

The book, “An Adventure From the Deep with Solas” which was written and illustrated by local writer and designer Alexander Strong, tells the story of From the Deep’s main character, Solas, and his journey through the oceans to discover his purpose. Alexander worked with fellow designer Strachan Barr on the layout to create a charming short story in rhyme suitable for children up to the ages of 7/8.

The copy, design, layout, print and distribution have all been donated to the charity by a collaboration of contributors to this year’s show, including the show’s creative director and concept originator, Karen Falconer of Wavemakers, Mackay & Inglis Printers, Antalis Papers, and sales by Let’s Eat Group in Glasgow.

One hundred percent of the book’s sales will go to The Enchanted Forest Community Trust which operates a Community Fund and a Discretionary Donations Fund to redistribute the surpluses from the annual event to the local community in Highland Perthshire. In 2022 the Community Fund was open to registered charities operating within Highland Perthshire who could apply for up to £10,000 to finance projects that help tackle poverty in the region and addressed cost of living crisis challenges. It awarded £49,750 to 17 registered charities operating across Perthshire in May this year.

The book’s storyline and illustrations were inspired by this year’s show which sees visitors transported into the depths of an underwater world, transforming Faskally Wood into an underwater forest with a deep watery glow of aqua blue and green. It will be sold exclusively to visitors to the event which runs until 5th November, as well as via the event’s website www.enchantedforest.org.uk.

Nela Popovic, executive director of The Enchanted Forest Community Trust, said: “This is a charming children’s book which really brings Solas’s journey to life for our younger visitors and will make a great stocking filler, as well as a fantastic bedtime story.   As a charity we are really grateful to Alexander for writing it, and to Strachan for creating a beautifully designed book that we’re sure children will love. Copies will be available to purchase at this years show for just £5 and all income from the book will go to The Enchanted Forest Community Trust, the registered charity that operates the event and which supports a number of local charities and initiatives throughout the year.”

Alexander Strong, the writer and illustrator of the book also commented:

“I came up with the idea while I was working on the show behind the scenes, just as a bit of fun, really. Karen spotted my illustrations and thought it was fantastic that I’d captured Solas’s journey in this way. Before we knew it, the printers were on board, The Enchanted Forest Community Trust had agreed to back it and the published book was in my hands, ready for thousands of children to read! It’s more than I’d ever imagined and I’m so grateful to everyone who donated their time and resources to help us create something so special. I really hope that Mums & Dads enjoy reading the story to their children and it becomes a bedtime favourite for everyone – it’s a great way to re-live the magic of the Enchanted Forest at home.”

Tickets are still available for this year’s event, albeit for limited dates. To book, or to find out more information, please visit: www.enchantedforest.org.uk

Organisers of Scotland’s favourite sound and light show, The Enchanted Forest, have appealed to the public to go through the official ticket sales route when buying or re-selling tickets for the award winning show, to avoid being scammed.

The Enchanted Forest, which launched on 5 October at the magnificent Faskally Woods, Pitlochry, and runs until 5 November, has an official “Fan to Fan Marketplace” service which allows the re-sell of tickets through an official channel. Organisers are encouraging fans to use this official route, which is operated by the event’s official ticketing agent, SEE Tickets, rather than buy tickets privately online, to avoid being scammed.

In the past, a handful of customers have unwittingly lost out to clever online fraudsters who have promised to sell on e-tickets in exchange for money to be sent via PayPal Gifts, who have then not fulfilled their promise or have provided tickets which had already been scanned and were no longer valid. There are even examples of criminals setting up fake ticket sites to sell tickets at different prices via Gumtree.

Tricia Fox, marketing manager for The Enchanted Forest, said:

“Every year it pains me to see people caught out in these opportunistic scams, and I really can’t emphasise enough that people, for their own safety, should only purchase via the official channels. While cheaper tickets might look tempting, it’s not just the fact that the tickets may be fake but that you are perhaps unwittingly giving fraudsters access to personal and financial information that they may take advantage of.

“If you can no longer make the event, and need to resell your ticket, please do not sell them privately on Facebook or Gumtree. Instead, please visit our Fan-to-Fan Marketplace service which will allow you to re-sell your tickets safely and securely and avoid being targeted by scammers.

“Sadly, this kind of fraud is increasingly common, and continues to be an issue for events up and down the country, and we are trying to clamp down on this issue to protect our visitors. We want to avoid any Enchanted Forest fans not being able to access and enjoy the event because they’ve been so desperate to purchase tickets that they’ve fallen foul of some very sophisticated scams.”

If you are no longer able to make the event and wish to resell your tickets, please do this through the official “Fan to Fan Marketplace” service, which can be accessed here: https://enchantedforest.seetickets.com/content/fan-to-fan

If you wish to attend the show, which this year is celebrating its 21st anniversary, and have not yet bought your tickets, tickets are still available and can still be purchased via the Enchanted Forest website: https://www.enchantedforest.org.uk/

Olympic curling skipper Eve Muirhead OBE enjoyed a full house of a different kind last night when she attended the opening of Scotland’s favourite sound and light show, The Enchanted Forest.

Eve, who is local to the Highland Perthshire area where the event is held, attended the opening with several members of her family and was spotted playing on the interactive stepping stones which lit up like targets on a curling rink when stepped upon.

The sound and light spectacle at Faskally Wood, Pitlochry, runs from 5 October to 5 November 2023, and will see visitors transported into the depths of an underwater world this year with its theme: From the Deep.

Tickets are available at www.enchantedforest.org.uk

Scotland’s favourite sound and light show, The Enchanted Forest, welcomed hundreds of visitors back to the familiar, majestic surroundings of Faskally Wood, Pitlochry, tonight (4 October), with its 21st anniversary show, ‘From the Deep’, designed to create a bigger splash than ever before.

This year’s show, which runs from 5 October to 5 November 2023, sees visitors transported into the depths of an underwater world. Blending light, video, and sound to create a truly unique visitor experience, Faskally Wood has been transformed into an underwater forest with a deep watery glow of aqua blue and green.

Set against the impressive backdrop of Faskally Wood, the 21st anniversary show has been delivered by a collaboration of some of the UK’s leading event production companies and creative talents. Led by Karen Falconer, creative director at event management agency Wavemakers Live, creative design has been a collaborative process between lighting designer Grant Anderson, animation designers Bright Side Studios and composers and sound designers Jon Beales and Rachel Cullen, with technical production for the show provided by Catalyst Event Production Services. Special technical studio services have been provided by DM Audio.

The creative team has succeeded in delivering the biggest, most technically advanced, show in the event’s 21-year history, with more lights and installations than ever before, all helping to transport visitors to a unique and inspirational place, delighting people of all ages. An installation named ‘An Toiseach’ which will serve as an introduction to visitors’ underwater journey around the forest with the unveiling of a very special friend, the protector and guardian of all life, under the surface of the water. Another installation, ‘The Beastie in the Boathouse’, will reveal a massive underwater beastie hiding in the boathouse as visitors make their way around the loch, and ‘Tamu Massif’ offers visitors a chance to explore the world’s largest underwater volcano, with the heat from the spectacle of lava adding to the sensory experience.

There is once again a spectacular light show over Loch Dunmore, ‘Living light on the loch’, which uses music, animation, projection, beams, lights, and lasers to tell the story of bioluminescent creatures that are found throughout marine habitats, from the ocean surface to the deep seafloor. The show culminates in at the final installation ‘Purpose’. It marks visitors’ journey from the deep to the surface of the water, where the forest comes alive in an amazing finale light show. The musical soundtrack to this installation features the voices of local Pitlochry Primary and High School pupils singing a phrase in Gaelic ‘sgaoil an solus’ (pronounced ‘skoo-il na solas’) meaning ‘share the light’, which is included in a vocal harmony choir.

Nela Popovic, executive director of The Enchanted Forest Community Trust, said: “It’s fantastic to see the months of planning finally come to life in this year’s ‘From the Deep’ show. We have been working hard behind the scenes to raise the creative bar even further this year to create a truly original experience where people of all ages can set their imaginations alight. I cannot wait to see the look on peoples’ faces as they walk round the forest and enjoy the immersive experience of the show this year. We very much hope that they enjoy this oceanic spectacle of light and sounds in the magnificent surroundings of Faskally Wood at The Enchanted Forest.”

An independent economic assessment report commissioned by the Enchanted Forest Community Trust found the 2022 Enchanted Forest event was responsible for delivering an impressive economic impact of nearly £10 million to Highland Perthshire last Autumn. It is expected that this year’s show, with more than 80,000 visitors expected, will again deliver a higher impact and a genuine boost to tourism operators in the region. The success of the 2022 show has enabled the Enchanted Forest Community Trust to donate £55,200 to registered charities and community interest groups operating within Highland Perthshire through the Enchanted Forest Community Fund.

While selling very quickly indeed, some tickets are still available for this year’s event. To book, or to find out more information, please visit: www.enchantedforest.org.uk

In advance of Scotland’s favourite sound and light show, The Enchanted Forest, opening next month on 5 October, a group of Norwegian school children have expressed their delight by writing to The Enchanted Forest fairy at Faskally Wood, Pitlochry, where the award winning show is based.

The collection of letters, addressed to ‘The Enchanted Forest Pitlochry fairy’ at The Enchanted Forest, Loch Dunmore, Faskally Wood, Pitlochry, PH16 5LB, Storbritannia, found its way to the Honest Thistle contemporary arts and gift shop in Pitlochry where it was picked up by a member of The Enchanted Forest’s marketing team who happened to be in the town dropping off posters for the event.

The envelope contains five letters written in English from children in Norway, asking The Enchanted Forest fairy to be their friend, and inviting the fairy to take afternoon tea with them in their garden. The Enchanted Forest Community Trust, organisers of the Enchanted Forest show, are keen to track the children down, as there was no return address included with the letters.

Vicki Burrell, owner of Honest Thistle, said: “The Royal Mail postman dropped the envelope with me as he wasn’t sure where to deliver it, but I’m so pleased for the Norwegian children who went to all this effort, that by chance, the letter has been able to find it’s way to the organisers of the Enchanted Forest, The Enchanted Forest Community Trust.”

Nela Popovic, executive director of The Enchanted Forest Community Trust, said: “We were delighted to receive this letter which shows the show’s appeal goes way beyond Scotland, and even the UK. The Enchanted Forest has become a key destination event in the Autumn and is one of the UK’s most successful cultural events, which has succeeded in putting Pitlochry on the international map, with a reputation that precedes it.

“We believe the children live in Sandefjord in Norway. We’d be keen to find them and invite them to experience the magic of the event for themselves.”

Tickets for the 2023 show ‘From the Deep’ are currently on sale, with this year’s oceanic theme set to transform Faskally Wood into an underwater adventure for visitors, taking them from the metaphoric depths of the ocean to the shorelines of Loch Dunmore as they make their way around the forest trail this Autumn. The Enchanted Forest runs from 5 October to 5 November and to book tickets, or to find out more information, please visit: www.enchantedforest.org.uk.

In anticipation of Scotland’s favourite sound and light show, The Enchanted Forest, opening next month on 5 October, Pitlochry High School pupils were busy yesterday (21 September) recording part of the musical soundtrack of the finale of the show, which this year is themed ‘From The Deep’.

The group of 23 P5 – S2 pupils gathered in the school’s assembly hall to record part of the show’s musical soundtrack which will feature the pupils singing a phrase in Gaelic ‘sgaoil an solus’ (pronounced ‘skoo-il na solas’) meaning ‘share the light’, to be included in a vocal harmony choir. Their singing will feature in the finale of this year’s popular sound and light show, which attracts 83,000 visitors annually through the five-week run.

The recording of the musical soundtrack of the show’s finale involved both primary and high school pupils at Pitlochry High and The Enchanted Forest’s creative team, a collaboration of some of the UK’s leading event production companies and creative talents, including Karen Falconer, creative director at event management agency, Wavemakers Live, Marcin Buczek, director of DM Audio, and composer and sound designer, Jon Beales.

As the name suggests, this year’s show, which will run from 5 October to 5 November 2023, has an oceanic theme and has been designed to create a bigger splash than ever before. Using captivating visuals and an original music score, this year’s show will see visitors transported into the depths of an underwater world. Blending light, video, and sound to create a truly unique visitor experience, Faskally Wood will transform into an underwater forest with a deep watery glow of aqua blue and green.

As with previous years, this year’s show will include several impressive installations, including a spectacular light show over Loch Dunmore which will use music, animation, projection, beams, lights, and lasers to tell the story of bioluminescent creatures that are found throughout marine habitats, from the ocean surface to the deep seafloor.

Ryan Webber, music teacher at Pitlochry High School, said: “The children are thrilled to be involved in recording part of the musical soundtrack for the finale of The Enchanted Forest’s ‘From The Deep’ show. We have been working hard on their Gaelic to ensure they sound excellent. To be a part of such a hugely successful, well-regarded, and popular local event is fantastic, and they are all looking forward to hearing their voices as part of the show when they visit.”

Nela Popovic, executive director of The Enchanted Forest Community Trust, said: “We’re delighted to have the involvement of local pupils at Pitlochry High School within this year’s show; they will have a fundamental role to play in the finale of the event, and the story of the show, which is weaved throughout every installation.

“With only a few weeks to go, we cannot wait to welcome visitors back to the beautiful Faskally Wood for an extraordinary oceanic themed show. Our team have been working extremely hard behind the scenes to create an event which will create a big splash, encouraging our visitors to soak up the incredible atmosphere. The pupil’s involvement in the musical soundtrack will work to enhance the authenticity of the show’s finale, by bringing a fantastic Gaelic twist.”

The pupils at Pitlochry High School involved in the recording have been provided with complimentary tickets to the opening night of the show on 5 October by organisers, The Enchanted Forest Community Trust, as a thank you for their contribution.

The Enchanted Forest Community Trust, organisers behind Scotland’s favourite sound and light show, The Enchanted Forest, has appointed three local bus operators for the 2023 show, From the Deep, reinforcing one of the Trust’s core values of using local suppliers as much as is possible.

The three companies including Auchterarder based Docherty’s Midland Coaches, Pitlochry based Elizabeth Yule Transport, and Bathgate based Harry Ferguson Traveline will be collectively responsible for transporting more than 83,000 visitors to and from The Enchanted Forest event from 5 October to 5 November this year. The buses will depart from the Fisher’s Hotel in the centre of Pitlochry.

Harry Ferguson Traveline will be supplying the event’s accessibility buses this year, which will leave from Blair Athol Distillery on the outskirts of Pitlochry. This service caters for customers who have specific needs, but do not require disabled parking on site which is limited. The buses will not require people to climb stairs to board.

Monique McArdle, event producer of The Enchanted Forest Community Trust, said: “Much like the event itself, the bus companies who help the event run so smoothly every year by transporting visitors to the forest were badly impacted by the pandemic. So, we’re delighted to be able to offer this contract to three local businesses, one of whom is based in Pitlochry itself, and as a result help to provide sustained employment to local people.”

Ricky Morton, Director, and Transport Manager at Elizabeth Yule Transport said: “As a local business based in Pitlochry, we’re pleased to be working with The Enchanted Forest this year and look forward to taking their visitors to and from the forest in October. It’s one of the country’s major events and we’re proud to have been selected as one of their transport partners, proof that collaborating with local businesses is great for the local economy.”

This appointment follows the publication of an independent economic assessment report commissioned by the Enchanted Forest Community Trust that found the 2022 Enchanted Forest event was responsible for delivering an impressive economic impact of nearly £10 million to Highland Perthshire last Autumn.