Winter Festival – Light up the River
Festive mistletoe arch by day…ethereal River Test bridge by evening… #milltrail #whitchurchhampshire
The Winter Festival ‘Light up the River’ light installation is on display every evening from sunset to 9pm until the 29th December 2021.
Created by artist Raphael Daden, and commissioned by Whitchurch Conservation Group with funding from Arts Council England, the light installation draws inspiration from the spirit of the famous chalkstream river, its riverbanks, which are designated a Special Site of Scientific Interest, and the surrounding trees.
A free, riverside walk along the Mill Trail, a waymarked walk, the River Test light installation is on display every evening from sunset until 9pm until 29th December 2021. It is situated on the Mill Trail network of public footpaths in Whitchurch, on the bridge by Fulling Mill.
Transforming the River Test at night with an orchestrated series of light works that span the bridge by Fulling Mill, one of the historic mills in Whitchurch, its subtly moving sequences of LED light symbolically draw inspiration from the spirit and history of the river.
It encourages walkers and visitors to reconnect with the River Test and combines participation in art and culture with the wellbeing benefits of walking and spending time outdoors as well as a timely opportunity to visit local hospitality businesses in Whitchurch including Kudos Coffee, 909 Bistro, King’s Arms and The White Hart.
Note: it is a muddy, countryside footpath: please do wear appropriate footwear!
The Mill Trail: The Mill Trail is a waymarked walk along the River Test. Find out more here:
https://whitchurch.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Whitchurch-Mill-Trail.pdf
Raphael Daden is a Nottingham/UK based sculptor working mainly with light. Raphael has been combining different materials with light for over ten years and has been working professionally on commissions within this time. http://www.raphaeldaden.co.uk
Whitchurch Conservation Group (WCG) is a constituted community group based in Whitchurch, Hampshire. Established in October 2020, the group has over 800 Whitchurch resident members.
The group seeks to preserve Whitchurch’s green spaces, enhancing Whitchurch’s status as an economically and socially vibrant town with a strong rural and heritage identity.