As you will have seen the illuminations on the big plane tree have already made their appearance, a good few weeks before their normal switch-on time. We thought it would be nice to show off the new improved branch-wrapped lighting, with up-lighters to highlight the crown of the tree also expected to be in place early next month. The plan is that the lights will stay switched on now until the end of January. As one Board member commented:" We need something joyful to get us through Winter and in the wider context of these troubling times!"
Residents had the chance to admire the new improved illuminations on the big plane tree --branch-wrapped lighting plus up-lighters to draw attention to the crown -- when it was given a test-run after the Bonfire Night celebrations earlier this month. Now the Board has decided that they will be turned on earlier this year, in time for Thanksgiving on November 23rd, & stay switched on nightly until the end of January. As one Board member commented:" We need something joyful to get us through Winter and in the wider context of these troubling times!"
Yes, I know that's what we say every year, probably with the same headline, but by common consent this was the biggest & best display ever -- courtesy of a new supplier, Firework Crazy, who did the after-party fireworks for this year's Brit Awards along with many other high-profile events.
After some spells of heavy rain earlier in the day the weather finally decided to play ball, enabling the bonfire to be lit as usual. The display then went ahead without a hitch, with fireworks firing off at various different levels, culminating in a stunning finale. The many residents who'd congregated at the edge of the Garden also had the chance to admire the new improved illuminations on the plane tree, switched on for the first time to signal the beginning of the countdown to Christmas.
