Yesterday saw visitors heading to the National Trust’s Trelissick near Truro for the first of eleven evenings of ‘the illuminated garden of delights’ running until Thursday December 23 and even one of the buildings was suitably decorated.

Electricians, technicians and the garden team have been busy for weeks choosing their favourite trees, shrubs and features in the garden to light up for the special evening opening.

From multi-coloured hydrangea bushes to the crisp framework of 250 year old oak trees, the circuit walk has been designed to take in the highlights of the 30 acre woodland garden. A different surprise was also in store for people exploring the garden as Trelissick’s Victorian character storytellers offered to accompany them around the garden with tales from the past.

In addition to the floodlit trees and features in the garden, the lights of 25 Christmas trees and the illuminated Water Tower (complete with festive ribbon and bow) added light to the evening. Playful visitors got to grips with the ‘doodle’ - a fibre-optic, colour-changing rope light which can be twisted and hung on a framework to make 3D light sculptures.

Although the night was chilly, visitors found warmth around the outdoor fire in the restaurant courtyard and the mulled apple juice and hot food served in the restaurant went down well too. A variety of musicians are performing at the evening openings with last night’s music coming from Gaynor Williams singing traditional and popular Christmas songs.

Jon O’Donoghue, Visitor Experience Manager for Trelissick, said: “What I found great about last night was the fact so many visitors who came during the daytime stayed on into the evening. I met one couple who had spent five hours at Trelissick. I’m delighted that visitors have enjoyed the lighting and other elements of our evening opening, and it’s great for us to be able to give our local members a very different experience.”

The illuminated garden runs until 7pm every day up to Thursday December 23.