Enchanted Parks at Saltwell Park, Gateshead, until tomorrow

THE illuminated outline of a parasol-carrying Victorian lady in crinoline, taking tea at a garden table while similarly lit figures dangle from trees overhead, was one of several surreal spectacles awaiting visitors to Enchanted Parks.

Those Ladies of the Light, by Bare Toed Dance Company, were a highlight for me of the annual event which turns the park into fairyland.

Lighting the way are colourful illuminated trees and a mix of light and sound installations - 14 artworks including lovely bird cages by Miguel Salcedas Coelho and silhouettes by Lucy Walters, both students.

The otherwise dark and mysterious park lends itself to this year’s “surprise” theme. Another highlight was the lights and rosebud display which made a kind of giant maypole of the bandstand.

I was a bit disappointed that this year there were no similarly big pieces in the dene and rose garden.

Instead other areas of the park are brought into play while the dene is given over to a series of little boxes. While I liked the idea of opening them, they were hard to reach in the crowd.

I really liked the Medusa head shrouded in smoke and flames. Half sunk in the ground, its snakes make clever use of the tree branches.

Then there was the window sculpture, with the ‘glass’ which turned out to be ice, and the dinner table in the warmth of Saltwell Towers, with its chatter and projected images of a dinner party.

It proved a relaxing interlude, watching meals and drinks being served and cleared away, and I wanted to wait to see what they got for dessert.

High winds caused the closure of Enchanted Parks on Thursday night but, weather permitting, the NGI and Gateshead Council-created attraction will be open tonight and Sunday.

Barbara Hodgson