Tayside Mountain Rescue Funds Boosted by £10,000 Donation

Tayside Mountain Rescue has received a generous donation of £10,000 from The Enchanted Forest Community Trust to contribute to its life-saving activities. The charity, which operates in all weather, all terrain and at all hours, is a group of around 50 volunteers sporting a plethora of specialist outdoor skills including remote medical expertise, technical rigging, swift water rescue and search management.

Like so many charities in the UK, Tayside Mountain Rescue’s fundraising has been adversely impacted by the pandemic. When The Enchanted Forest Community Trust approached the team for practical assistance in the siting of technical kit to run a night sky laser show in return for a donation, the team swung into action. Their efforts resulted in the night skies around Pitlochry beaming with hope over the first weekend in October as the event signalled its return to the area in 2021 delighting local residents with a laser show that could be watched safely from the confinement of their own back gardens.

Lesley Williamson, Executive Director of The Enchanted Forest, said: “We are delighted to be making this donation of £10,000 to Tayside Mountain Rescue. The work they do in rural landscapes like ours is invaluable, helping people when they are in need, and often in the most challenging of circumstances. It is a very challenging time for them, with many fundraising events sadly cancelled this year, and we wanted to what we could to help them. We are confident the funds will assist in enabling them to continue delivering life-saving services to the Tayside region.”

Kevin Linklater, President of Tayside Mountain Rescue commented: “We are very grateful The Enchanted Forest Community Trust for their timely donation. Like so many charities, we have been forced to cancel several of our own fundraising events this year and this donation will go a long way to boost our team funds. It is very much appreciated, and our team really enjoyed providing support to the production of the community laser show earlier this month.”

For more information about attending The Enchanted Forest in 2021 and to buy tickets, visit enchantedforest.org.uk.

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To our community…

We are looking forward to The Enchanted Forest returning to Highland Perthshire in October 2021.

To mark our return, on what would have been our show opening weekend (Friday 2nd – Sunday 4th October), we will be projecting a laser show into the skies around Pitlochry every night. This is our way of saying thank you to YOU. You have supported us over the last nineteen years and we wanted to let you know we are still with you during these challenging times.

The Enchanted Forest is operated by a charitable trust and this year, despite the challenges presented by COVID, we were still able to continue to support 29 local projects and organisations with cash donations amounting to over £68,000. This was the seventh year in a row that The Enchanted Forest Community Trust has been able to give back to our community and we hope to continue our good work in 2021.

These are testing times for us all. The Enchanted Forest has always been a community led event, managed by the community, for the community. We believe that there is true magic in the power of communities working together.

Although it cannot take place this year due to COVID restrictions, The Enchanted Forest normally welcomes over 80,000 visitors to Pitlochry and Highland Perthshire every year, providing a very real boost to local businesses. This year we know the event will be missed by many in what has been an extremely difficult year for all of us.

Like everyone, we want to look to the future with positivity and determination, therefore tickets for our 20th Anniversary event will be on sale to the public from Monday 5th October 2020 and we are optimistic that our confidence in the future of the event will be shared by our visitors.

Please stay safe, look after each other and we’ll see you next year.

The Enchanted Forest Team

For ticket information please visit: www.enchantedforest.org.uk

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ENCHANTED FOREST COMMUNITY LASER SHOW SIGNALS BEACON OF HOPE FOR 20TH ANNIVERSARY EVENT

Exactly two hundred days since mass gatherings were halted in the UK as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, organisers of The Enchanted Forest, Scotland’s pioneering sound and light show, are lighting up the skies of Pitlochry and surrounding area to mark what would have been the start of their 2020 event on 2 October and to signify their support for the local community.

The much-loved event, which normally attracts 80,000 visitors a year to Highland Perthshire, was cancelled due to the pandemic and the prohibition of events and mass gatherings. Normally providing a significant boost of over £7.6 million to Highland Perthshire every year, the event will be sorely missed by the local economy.

Organisers behind the event, The Enchanted Forest Community Trust, will mark what would have been the start of their 19th show on the weekend of 2nd – 4th October with a nightly laser show over the skies of Pitlochry to be viewed safely from the living room windows and back gardens of the local residents, in line with current restrictions. The bold beacon of hope is intended to signal to the local community that, although the 2020 event has been cancelled, there are big plans afoot for the 2021 show, the 20th anniversary of the trail-blazing event.

The planned activity includes the temporary erection of an 5 metre sized illuminated Enchanted Forest logo right at the heart of Pitlochry, signaling to fans that tickets for the 2021 show will be available to purchase from The Enchanted Forest website from 10am on Monday 5 October.

Although the event is not taking place this year, the annual charitable giving of the Enchanted Forest Community Trust is still taking place. This year the Trust has donated £68,000 to 29 local projects, the seventh year in a row the event has given back to the community in which it finds its home. This has included much needed COVID-19 rescue funds to The Birks Cinema in Aberfeldy and Pitlochry Festival Theatre, both of which have been directly impacted by the pandemic. Tayside Mountain Rescue, will also receive a donation of £10,000 from the Trust in return for their practical assistance in the siting of the night sky laser show.

Keith Moncrieff, Chairman of The Enchanted Forest, said: “Whilst we totally understand the reasons, we are extremely disappointed that The Enchanted Forest is not able to run this year. I know so many people will be feeling the loss of the event, in many ways. For this reason, we have decided to mark what would have been the start of the event on 2 October with a fantastic laser show, which will run every night over what would have been our opening weekend. At the heart of Pitlochry our illuminated logo will take pride of place outside the Visit Scotland Pitlochry iCentre this weekend. Our team are already making plans for the 2021 show and we are determined that for our 20th anniversary show, the lights will shine.

“We are also delighted that, despite these challenging circumstances, we have still been able to support 29 local projects financially, which we hope has been a welcome boost given the unfortunate loss of income that Pitlochry and Highland Perthshire will experience due to the cancellation of the 2020 event.”

Tickets for The Enchanted Forest 2021 will be available to purchase at enchantedforest.org.uk from 5 October at 10am.

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Enchanted Forest Community Trust steps in to help out 26 community projects

The Enchanted Forest Community Trust, organisers of the pioneering sound and light show in Pitlochry, has awarded £33,514 to 26 worthy community projects in Highland Perthshire.

This is the seventh consecutive year that such a fund has been available, and the 26 good causes range from supporting the Vale of Atholl Pipers Association to contribute to the replacement of their band kit, to purchasing tools for the upkeep of paths by the Rannoch Paths and Open Space Group. Other notable donations include a a new strip for Aberfeldy Rugby Football Club, assistance to Dunkeld & District Strathspey & Reel Society in hiring a tutor and a contribution towards the running costs of The Den, a community run after school club in Blair Atholl, Ballinluig and Pitlochry.

The Enchanted Forest Community Trust is able to offer smaller local community groups access to vital funding that they would otherwise find difficult to obtain from other funders many of whom have much higher minimum thresholds for application. With an average award value of £1289 across the 26 projects funded.

Paul Keith, Trustee of The Enchanted Forest, said:

“2019’s popular show saw more people visiting The Enchanted Forest than ever before. This incredible support means we are able to fund more exciting community events, projects and organisations. We’re delighted that our show helps makes this support possible, and visitors should feel proud that, just by visiting the Enchanted Forest, they have done their bit to give back to the community and benefit the local area.”

Over 80,000 visitors attended last year’s sold-out show Cosmos with proceeds from the event being distributed through The Enchanted Forest Community Trust to worthy causes in the local area.

Organisers announced on earlier this month that the 2020 event would be cancelled as a result of the impact of the coronavirus epidemic. More information on The Enchanted Forest is available on www.enchantedforest.org.uk

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The Enchanted Forest announces it is to cancel the 2020 event

The Enchanted Forest Community Trust, organisers of The Enchanted Forest, has today announced its decision to cancel the 2020 event, due to take place in October.

In a statement, posted on the event website and its social media channels, the Trustees of the charity said:

“It is with heavy hearts and great sadness that, due to the ongoing effect of Covid-19, The Enchanted Forest Community Trust has reached the decision to cancel this year’s event.

“Alongside the whole world, we have been watching the situation closely as it develops and, while we had quietly hoped the ban on mass gatherings may ease off in the Autumn, it is clear to us now that the ongoing requirements for physical distancing may remain in place until the end of the year. That and a lack of clarity surrounding the duration of the ban on mass gatherings means it is simply too risky for us to continue with our plans.

“We want to thank every single one of you for your support in making The Enchanted Forest the magical event that it is. Our beautiful home of Faskally Wood will stand proud and tall throughout this, and we will miss all of you coming to visit us this year. But we want our audience, you, to remain safe and well, and it’s so important that we all do our part in making that happen, however heart breaking that may be.

“In 2021, we will be celebrating our 20th anniversary and we plan to use the extra time in 2020 to get very creative and to ensure that our return in 2021 will be full of the magic and enchantment that you have all come to expect from us as Scotland’s pioneering sound and light show.”

Over 16,000 tickets for the 2020 event had already been sold, however The Enchanted Forest Community Trust has confirmed that everyone will receive a refund which will be processed over the next two weeks.

Tickets for the event in October 2021 are not yet available. For more information about The Enchanted Forest visit www.enchantedforest.org.uk

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PUP-TASTIC NEWS FOR THE ENCHANTED FOREST COMMUNITY TRUST

Organiser of Scotland’s premier sound and light show, The Enchanted Forest Community Trust, has received some pup-tastic news with the birth of Cosmos, a  golden retriever and future “guide dog in training” that has been named after the hugely successful 2019 Enchanted Forest event.

The Trust’s sponsored the guide dog after Guide Dogs Scotland (Perth & Kinross) were chosen as one of the official charity partners of the 2019 event, alongside the Bumblebee Conservation Trust and PKAVS.

Cosmos, a little girl pup, was born on 21 January 2020, alongside four other canine siblings named Flossie, Wendy, Harley and Hazel. Officially named Cosmos this month, she has been placed with her puppy walker who will start to teach her the skills she will need as a future guide dog. Guide Dogs received a donation of £5,000 from funds raised by the 2019 show’s ticket sales.

Ian Sim, Chairman of The Enchanted Forest Community Trust, said:  “Cosmos, the theme of our very popular 2019 Enchanted Forest event, has literally been given a new lease of life with the birth of our this little guide dog in training, a gorgeous golden retriever.  We’re delighted with this news, particularly in the current climate when everyone needs a little bit of cheering up, and thrilled that after her training Cosmos will be able to give a blind person a better quality of life and a freedom that without a guide dog they would not be able to have.”

Kyla McVicar, Business Development Manager at Guide Dogs Scotland, commented: “We are extremely grateful to the Enchanted Forest Community Trust for their generous support. The birth and naming of Cosmos has been such fantastic news amongst all the current challenges we are facing as a society. We look forward to the day when she is able to provide a blind person with the ability to get out and about and enjoy some level of freedom. Every hour, another person in the UK goes blind. When someone loses their sight, Guide Dogs are here to make sure they don’t loose their freedom as well.” The Enchanted Forest event this year is still due to take place between 1 October – 1 November 2020, although The Enchanted Forest Community Trust is closely watching the Coronavirus sitation and following Government guidance.

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Enchanted Forest Featured in VisitScotland’s Must-See Minimoon Destinations

It’s becoming more common for couples to save for a more expensive and exotic honeymoon, and to keep the exciting newlywed energy going, many couples are choosing to go on a minimoon shortly after their wedding.

VisitScotland has created a list of romantic getaways for the ultimate Scottish minimoon where the Enchanted Forest is featured to experience for those visiting the stunning backdrop of Pitlochry and Perthshire.

Tickets for the 2020 Enchanted Forest go on sale in June. Find out more here.

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The Enchanted Forest opens its 2020 Community Fund for applications

The Enchanted Forest Community Trust, the charitable organisation that runs Scotland’s trailblazing sound and light show The Enchanted Forest, is now accepting applications from local community groups, projects and charities in Pitlochry and the wider Highland Perthshire area for their 2020 Community Fund.

Now in its eighth year, The Enchanted Forest Community Trust set up the Fund to ensure the event provided significant economic benefits to the local community.

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.

Completed applications should be returned no later than February 28, 2020 to Allie Walker either by email: community@enchantedforest.org.uk or c/o Walton Kilgour, 30 Bonnethill Road, Pitlochry, PH16 5BS.

To download an application form, visit www.enchantedforest.org.uk

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BUZZBÒ, THE WORLD’S FIRST HIGHLAND COOSMONAUT, REACHES THE COSMOS AT THE ENCHANTED FOREST 2019

VisitScotland’s 50th anniversary mascot, BuzzBò, will be reaching new heights at The Enchanted Forest’s 2019 Cosmos event.

This year VisitScotland celebrated their anniversary by launching the world’s first Highland Coosmonaut into ‘near space’ wearing a special spacesuit featuring Armstrong tartan, a nod to the first human to land on the moon 50 years ago.

Footage of BuzzBò’s momentous journey was unveiled to the public on the anniversary of the launch of the moon landing mission itself, July 16th, but the Coosmonaut will now revisit the cosmos from the safety of planet earth during his stay at The Enchanted Forest throughout the month of October.

The 2019 show takes its inspiration from the vastness and natural beauty of the skies that sit above the forest. Whilst visitors will be able to enjoy the security and familiarity of their forest surroundings, the show will encourage visitors to sense the awe and wonderment of the looking up to the sky through the tree canopy and be captivated by the cosmos.

New for 2019 is the Geodome, a 7m inflatable projection dome, accommodating approximately 60 people per showing. A completely immersive experience, it gives those within it the impression they are flying through the Cosmos. The whole experience lasts for five minutes.

Ian Sim, Chairman of The Enchanted Forest Community Trust, said:

“Fifty years after man stepped on the moon for the very first time, we promise this year will be a delight, particularly for those with a fascination with space and astronomy. We are delighted to be collaborating with VisitScotland to bring BuzzBò, the World’s first Highland Coosmonaut, to our 2019 space themed show. Be sure to stop by our Customer Services desk where BuzzBò will be stationed throughout the run.

“The exciting thing about The Enchanted Forest is that the theme changes every year and we are constantly raising the bar in terms of what is possible. Although this brings its own challenges, we are delighted that the team relish this kind of creative challenge and work collaboratively to deliver what is going to be a truly unique and, literally, an ‘out of this world’ experience.”

Before blasting off into the cosmos at The Enchanted Forest, BuzzBò will take in all that Perthshire has to offer with an overnight stay at one of Scotland’s most popular leisure resorts, Crieff Hydro.

Caroline Warburton, VisitScotland Regional Leadership Director, said: “The Enchanted Forest is always a spectacular event which brings people from across Scotland and further afield to the region. I’m thrilled that our very own Coosmonaut BuzzBò will be able play a part in this year’s show, promoting VisitScotland’s 50th anniversary, Scotland’s connections with space, and Perthshire’s tourism offering to visitors.

“At VisitScotland we want to champion collaboration, spearhead innovation, promote local areas and events and ensure that tourism is recognised for the positive impact it brings to Scotland. It therefore made perfect sense to get involved in this exciting project which is frankly, out of this world!”  This year’s Enchanted Forest will run from 3 October – 3 November 2019.

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The Enchanted Forest opens it’s out of this world 2019 event

Hundreds of visitors immersed themselves in another universe as the trailblazing sound and light show, The Enchanted Forest, launched its much anticipated 2019 event, Cosmos, on Wednesday, October 2nd.

Invited guests were welcomed to the illuminating sound and light event before opening to general public on October 3rd, for its month-long run at Faskally Wood in Pitlochry.

Taking inspiration from the vastness and natural beauty of the skies that sit above the forest, The Enchanted Forest has released 80,000 tickets for this year’s event, with only a few dates still available for last minute bookings.

Whilst visitors will be able to enjoy the security and familiarity of their forest surroundings, the show will encourage visitors to sense the awe and wonderment of looking up to the sky through the tree canopy and be captivated by the cosmos.

New for 2019 is the Geodome, a 7m inflatable projection dome, accommodating approximately 50 people per showing. A completely immersive experience, it gives those within it the impression they are flying through the Cosmos.

Ian Sim, Chairman of The Enchanted Forest Community Trust, said: “Now in its 18th year, The Enchanted Forest continues to break the boundaries of what is possible for a sound and light show, and we are especially proud of our 2019 show, Cosmos. I would encourage those still without tickets to snap up the last remaining few as soon as possible.”

Commenting on this year’s event, he said: “The exciting thing about The Enchanted Forest is that the theme changes every year and we are constantly raising the bar in terms of what is possible. Although this brings its own challenges, we are delighted that the team relish this kind of creative challenge and work collaboratively to deliver what is going to be a truly unique and, literally, an ‘out of this world’ experience.”

Bumblebee Conservation Trust, PKAVS and Guide Dogs Scotland have been confirmed as the official charity partners for 2019. These organisations will not only benefit financially but will be promoted extensively during the run of the event to raise awareness of their good work in the community.

It is estimated that The Enchanted Forest delivers £7.6million economic benefit to Perthshire’s economy per annum, according to a report by Tourism Resources Company in Glasgow. The event grew to 80,000 visitors in 2018, 52% of whom choose to stay overnight in the local area.

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The Enchanted Forest Celebrates shortlisting for Scotland’s Tourism Oscars

Less than a week before it opens to the public, The Enchanted Forest is celebrating a shortlisting for the coveted Visit Scotland Thistle Awards for Best Cultural Event or Festival in Central, Fife & Tayside.

The event won the category last year and this year’s shortlisting is the sixth in a row for Scotland’s premier outdoor sound and light event which takes place at Faskally Wood in Pitlochry throughout the month of October.

News of the event’s shortlisting for Best Cultural Event in Central, Fife and Tayside comes just days before the much-anticipated 2019 show – Cosmos – opens to the public on Thursday, October 3.

Ian Sim, chairman of The Enchanted Forest Community Trust, which operates the event, said:

“The show has grown from the strength to strength and last year’s show was record-breaking, with just over 80,000 visitors in attendance. We’re delighted there is so much interest again this year, making it by far the most popular show to date. However, we would advise those who haven’t yet booked to do so as soon as possible as we expect the full show run will sell out once again.”

The 2019 show takes its inspiration from the vastness and natural beauty of the skies that sit above the forest. Whilst visitors will be able to enjoy the security and familiarity of their forest surroundings, the show will encourage visitors to sense the awe and wonderment of the looking up to the sky through the tree canopy and be captivated by the cosmos.

New for 2019 is the Geodome, a 7m inflatable projection dome, accommodating approximately 60 people per showing. A completely immersive experience, it gives those within it the impression they are flying through the Cosmos. The whole experience lasts for five minutes.

This year’s show is supporting Bumblebee Conservation Trust, PKAVS and Guide Dogs (Scotland).

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ENCHANTED FOREST REACHES FOR THE STARS IN THIS YEAR’S SHOW

Scotland’s pioneering sound and light show, The Enchanted Forest, is reaching for the stars this October with an exciting new installation, the Geodome, a spectacular 360° immersive experience.

The 2019 show, entitled Cosmos, takes its inspiration from the vastness and natural beauty of the skies that sit above the forest. Whilst visitors will be able to enjoy the security and familiarity of their forest surroundings, the show will encourage visitors to sense the awe and wonderment of the looking up to the sky through the tree canopy and be captivated by the cosmos.

It’s in this spirit that The Enchanted Forest is introducing the Geodome. The Geodome is a 7m inflatable projection dome, accommodating approximately 60 people per showing. A completely immersive experience, it gives those within it the impression they are flying through the Cosmos. The whole experience lasts for five minutes.

Bringing this new creative feature to the show this year is Immersive Experiences, a company founded by entrepreneurs with a passion for astronomy. Immersive Experiences is a multi-award-winning provider of learning experiences across the UK’s largest fleet of mobile planetariums, drones, VR and sensory rooms.

Now in its 18 year, The Enchanted Forest prides itself on trailblazing the creative bar in sound and light shows internationally with a changing theme each year and a host of new creative talent and installations. This year, in addition to Immersive Experiences, several companies will be involved in helping the team deliver another outstanding event.

Novak, a specialist in motion design, will once again be lending its expertise to the show and providing video content. EventFX will be providing pyrotechnics expertise, alongside Airstar, a world leader in designing and producing inflatable technologies. Ray Interactive and Bespoke Lighting and Video will also be involved, and Definitive Special Projects will be creating a beautiful laser show.

Set against the stunning natural backdrop of Faskally Wood, organisers The Enchanted Forest Community Trust use of some of the world’s premier creative talents, many of whom are based in Scotland, to produce a world-class show. Zoë Squair has returned as creative producer, alongside Kate Bonney and Simon Hayes as lighting designers, and RJ McConnell, Jon Beales and Rachel Cullen providing sound design and composition for this year’s magical event. This year visitors can expect a dynamic, contemplative walk through the wood unlike anything experienced at The Enchanted Forest before.

Ian Sim, Chairman of The Enchanted Forest Community Trust, said: “The exciting thing about The Enchanted Forest is that the theme changes every year and we are constantly raising the bar in terms of what is possible. Although this brings its own challenges, we are delighted with the team relish this kind of creative challenge and work collaboratively to deliver what is going to be a truly unique and, literally, an ‘out of this world’ experience.

“Fifty years after man stepped on the moon for the very first time, we promise this year will be a delight, particularly for those with a fascination with space and astronomy. We are really pleased to be collaborating with Immersive Experiences for this year’s show. For those returning to The Enchanted Forest show we can guarantee new and exciting experiences!”

This year’s Enchanted Forest will run from 3 October – 3 November 2019.

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