[Feature image: Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh]
At this time year there are more than the traditional Christmas lights in most key towns and cities through the increasingly popular medium of light festivals. More than a display, they range in their complexity but usually involve spectacular, themed installations that draw crowds for miles around. This creative, often breath-taking use of light is a wonderful way to celebrate and bring people together.
Lumiere Durham was held over 4 days in November and attracted more than 200,000 visitors. Hull is hosting a dazzling finale to the year, finishing on 7 Jan with an art collective display of robotic inspired lights. Longleat in Wiltshire is basing its festival of light on children's classic fairytales and ends tomorrow on 2nd January. The gardens and greenhouses at Kew, London, feature more than a million twinkling lights and a laser show. London's traditional Christmas lights included 750,000 LED bulbs alone this year.
These are just a few examples of light festivals in the UK and are representative of a more adventurous future with lights and all that they're capable of achieving.