The Enchanted Forest Community Trust.
The Enchanted Forest Community Trust is the registered charity solely responsible for the creation and delivery of Scotland’s premier sound and light show, The Enchanted Forest.
Operated by a voluntary board of Trustees, they oversee the running and implementation of the event to the direct benefit of Highland Perthshire.
The organisation has operated since 2010 as a charitable trust, creating economic wealth and redistributing event surpluses to local community groups and charities to directly benefit the community. Prior to this, the event was run by a community interest company. Under the Trust’s direction, The Enchanted Forest has grown from attracting around 19,000 visitors to over 80,000 visitors every Autumn and contributing over £7.5 million to the local economy. The first Enchanted Forest event was held in 2002.
The aim of the charity is to primarily, but not exclusively, to benefit the community of Highland Perthshire defined by postcode districts PH8, PH9, PHI5, PH16, PHI7 and PH18.
Specific objectives are:
To advance the arts, heritage, culture and science of the area by supporting, managing, promoting and developing quality events which enhance and celebrate the natural and cultural resources of the area and encourage education and participation therein
To provide funding to charities, clubs and organisations primarily, but not exclusively, working in the area or providing benefit in the area, to enable them to implement, or assist in the implementation of, their own projects the purposes of which promote any of the following:
- The advancement of arts, heritage, culture or science
- The advancement of community development and environmental protection or improvement
- The advancement of education
- The advancement of public participation in sport or the provision or organisation of recreational facilities with the object of improving the conditions of life for the persons for whom the facilities or activities are primarily intended
- Relief of those in need by reason of age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage.
Our board of trustees.
Our Trustees are drawn from a wide variety of backgrounds and we are always interested in hearing from people who have experience to bring to the table.
Karen Bothwell, Chairperson
Karen Bothwell, a former senior executive in financial services with lengthy experience leading teams, large and small, Karen spent over thirty years in Financial Services with Lloyds Banking Group where she acquired deep experience across legal, risk, governance and regulation. Over the years she has held a number of board positions across a range of sectors including growth capital investment, hospitality, housing building and property, providing insight, guidance, and challenge, particularly for governance, risk, and strategic change.
Recently retired and now living in Highland Perthshire, Karen is a treasurer of her local church and chairs a new charity set up by the Churches in and around Aberfeldy to coordinate anti-poverty initiatives in the Highland Perthshire area.
Karen’s appointment further strengthens The Enchanted Forest Community Trust’s board and supports the creation of a sustainable strategy to deliver The Enchanted Forest event, securing its very meaningful impact on the local economy and building on its charitable community initiatives, bringing additional expertise to the organisation and the event, which draws over 80,000 visitors to Highland Perthshire annually.
Jacob Brydon
Jacob Brydon grew up on the Isle of Lewis and has been working in the major events sector for over a decade, with a range of client-side and freelance roles in accreditation, security, event coordination and press operations at music, culture and arts festivals and events across the UK. He is currently the event administration manager for one of the UK’s leading security and crowd management companies.
With a professional background in marketing and communications, including freelance roles within the third sector and more recently taking up positions within sport and youth arts organisations, he hopes to bring a fresh perspective to the board.
Gemma Connor
Gemma is an experienced HR Director with a strong background in scaling businesses across the UK and European markets. Having started her career in television production, she moved into the drinks industry, where she helped drive growth across a number of high-profile independent companies, leading on people strategy, acquisitions, and organisational development.
Gemma has a particular interest in values-led leadership and inclusive workplace culture, and is currently also Vice Chair of RASAC Perth & Kinross. She brings a mix of strategic insight and creative thinking to her board roles, with a passion for community engagement and social impact.
Gemma lives in Perth with her two young children and has a deep appreciation for the arts, nature, and storytelling – all of which drew her to The Enchanted Forest.
Barry Fisher
Barry has nearly 30 years working with the Charity and Voluntary sector, working previously as the General Manager for Ocean Youth Trust and as Director for The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in Scotland. He is currently the Chief Executive for the Environmental Charity – Keep Scotland Beautiful – working across a portfolio of activity that includes tackling climate change, reducing litter and waste, promoting Biodiversity and improving places where people live and work.
He lives in the village of St Fillans and is the Secretary for the local Community Trust and also Secretary for the genocide education Charity Remembering Srebrenica.
Gordon Johnstone
Gordon Johnstone is a creative marketing professional with over a decade of experience in delivering strategies, events, and innovation. He is currently the Communications Manager at the Scottish AI Alliance where he contributes towards delivering Scotland’s AI strategy. Previously, he has organised international science conferences, worked in PR, the third sector, and generalist marketing roles.
As an active member of the arts and science community in Scotland, when he’s not working he also hosts the science podcasts and is one half of the band Post Coal Prom Queen.
Steven Jolly
Steven Jolly is currently Deputy Head of Commercial Banking, Scotland & Northern Ireland at HSBC UK. Steven has worked in the financial services industry for over 35 years and has a broad experience across corporate and commercial finance, operational and credit risk and change management. Steven has also held roles with voluntary organisations including Social Investment Scotland.
Steven thrives on commercial challenges and working with businesses across Scotland and Northern Ireland to create opportunities for growth domestically and internationally. The opportunity to join Enchanted Forest appealed to Steven, following a visit to the 2024 Show, as the Trust continues on its journey to continue making a difference to its local communities. Steven lives in the Central Belt and has a young family who love to go out and adventure.
Alan Lane
Alan Lane is the Creative Director for The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
For twenty years he was Artistic Director of Slung Low, the award-winning theatre company specialising in large scale outdoor theatre. He has made work with and for the BBC, Hull UK City of Culture 2017, the RSC, the Barbican, The Almeida, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Liverpool Everyman, Sheffield Theatres and Singapore Arts Festival.
He was awarded a BEM in 2022 for services to the community of Holbeck in South Leeds.
He first visited Enchanted Forest in 2024 with his young son David and they both became fast fans. He is really excited to join the board and champion this brilliant organisation.
Andrew Penker
Andrew is an independent People Consultant and founder of XSectorMentor.com, a mentor training and development organisation. He has extensive experience from national, international and Global HR roles across Hospitality and Contact centres, Banking and Finance, and Professional services.
Andrew is a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD, a Member of the Institute of Leadership and holds a Masters in HR Management, is a certified Coach (AoEC), and accredited Mentor (EMCC).
He was previously a trustee with South East Scotland Scouts, and is a current Judge for the prestigious annual HR Networks Scotland awards.
He grew up in Pitlochry and Highland Perthshire, and is delighted to join the Enchanted Forest Community Trust as a board member.
Trustee recruitment.
We are looking for dynamic, creative and motivated trustees to join the board of Scotland’s favourite sound and light show, The Enchanted Forest, and guide its development and charitable giving.
We’re looking for individuals who can help make a positive difference and support our mission.
We’re ideally looking for individuals with a creative or arts background, or major events experience, as well as from individuals who live in or around Highland Perthshire.
If this sounds like it might be you, please send an initial note of interest, explaining who you are and why you are interested in becoming a trustee, to Kathryn.boyd@enchantedforest.org.uk
The Enchanted Forest Community Trust is registered with Information Commissioner’s Office, Registration Number ZA351208
“The Enchanted Forest” is a registered trademark of The Enchanted Forest Community Trust.