For those looking to stretch the festive season just a little further, Westonbirt Arboretum offers a quietly magical answer in the days between Christmas and New Year.
Forestry England’s illuminated trail, Christmas at Westonbirt, continues until 31 December, turning the arboretum into a glowing winter landscape of light, colour and sound. For many, it has become a Twixmas tradition — a chance to step away from packed living rooms and busy calendars and into one of the world’s most celebrated tree collections, seen from a completely different angle.
With the main festivities behind us and the new year not quite in view, the trail offers something gentler than the December rush. Visitors wander at their own pace through woodland paths shaped by light installations that draw attention to the arboretum’s natural contours, creating moments of drama followed by stretches of calm.
This year’s route leans heavily into the rhythms of the natural world. Towering specimen trees become living canvases for slow-moving washes of colour, while open garden spaces feature interactive displays designed to delight younger visitors without overwhelming the setting.
New for this season is the Mycelium Network, an immersive installation of glowing, colour-shifting mushrooms linked by fibre-optic strands. It represents the unseen connections beneath the forest floor, offering a quietly fascinating insight into how woodland ecosystems function below ground.
Along the way, visitors will also encounter ten oversized wicker woodland creatures tucked among the planting. From a badger and fox to a red squirrel, stag and barn owl, these sculptures add moments of surprise and charm, particularly for families exploring the route together.
The layout makes full use of Westonbirt’s landscape, opening up long sightlines before drawing visitors into more intimate pockets of light and sound. It’s a design that rewards slower exploration — something many find especially appealing during Twixmas, when footfall tends to be steady rather than overwhelming.
Regular visitors often describe this period as the most peaceful time to experience the trail. With fewer crowds than earlier in December, the final days of the year offer a chance to enjoy the arboretum in a more reflective mood — a gentle pause before the calendar turns once again.
