Tree Walk Wonderland

My Dear Fellow,

One of my most affectionate memories of Scarborough is Peasholm Park's "Tree Walk Wonderland" it was a tourist attraction, so shut down off-season, but because it ran at night, it was a lot quieter than most of the other tourist-crowded things.

It was a little tacky, with fairy-lights brightening up trees and shrubs, with gonks and gnomes and other things hidden amongst them. But I've always loved being out in a garden at night, those night-time damp earth smells. The lights make it even more magical.

The "Botanic Lights" event here in Edinburgh was a lot classier, of course, but you can't take the Yorkshire out of the boy. My favourite part was a series of lights flashing on and off that almost appeared to make the trees dance in time to the CHEESIEST music. It was like the incidental music you get when they are introducing the acts on Eurovision (including German oompah music, I might add).

It was beautiful and atmospheric and me & Er Indoors loved it. No gonks or gnomes but the smell of damp earth never stops being thrilling.

El P.