Enchanted Parks is back

WE’RE met on arrival by a cheery figure draped in lights with a story to tell about lost items and the need to find their owners.

She is one of the Finders Keepers, who appear from out of the shadows as we set off on a meander around Saltwell Park in Gateshead which has been transformed into the House of Lost and Found for this year’s Enchanted Parks.

And there are enchanting scenes all around as our illuminated path guides us through a world which, we’re told, is a centuries-old travelling fair – led by illusionist Peter Chevalier and made up of a curious group of Finders Keepers who have amassed an equally curious collection of items which have been lost over the years.

We see these random items dotted around the park – in the likes of cabinets whose drawers we can open to examine what’s inside or cages suspended from the branches of trees – while the voice of Peter shares what he himself is looking for: his lost love.

Even if that’s all you know about the story then that’s enough, as the colourful light installations which link to this year’s theme as we make our way around the route can be enjoyed in their own right – which is just as well as it’s easy to miss their descriptions or hear each Finder Keeper’s role in the story if you get caught up in a crowd.

But if you want to explore the story on a deeper level, it’s worth taking your time and you can follow the trail at your own pace and take advantage of opportunities to escape to quieter areas.

But don’t forget to wrap up warm as on Tuesday’s opening night we spent two hours – and it could have been longer – wandering the magical scenes: looking at illuminations above our heads or bending down at various intervals to watch scenes of tiny figures, who we find are called the Little Legionnaires, going about their business at sorting offices or doing their best with a net to capture lost ideas.

One of my favourite works was the field of flame in the park’s rose garden area, where fairground music plays and carousels feature revolving silhouettes of figures, including Peter, playing out their lost and found stories. Around the flames are tied luggage labels noting details of random lost items.

I also loved the lighting in the dene, where we seemed engulfed in swirling colours and mist.

From the intriguing character of Peter to the scene of a giant fallen star, there are some lovely ideas here and lots to interact with, including plasma balls which stir to the touch, luminous pens to draw with and a chance to strike a post and have your shadow captured by light against a big screen – a hit with family groups.

With snatches of music and words in the air – quite literally in the Garden of Lost and Found Voices, where we hear voices play from recorders which hang from a colourful collection of umbrellas – much of Enchanted Parks is beautiful, eerie and even disorientating.

And this year it seems to cover a bigger area than ever, not least with the addition of new food outlets. And don’t miss the arty stalls upstairs in Saltwell Towers en route.

Enchanted Parks is running until Sunday.