WE may be longing for those lighter evenings, but why not make the most of the darkness to enjoy a Dorset attraction in a whole new light – literally.

Moors Valley Country Park and Forest will be transformed into an interactive night-time adventure playground of sound and light for The Electric Forest attraction from Saturday February 11 to Sunday February 19.

Award-winning specialist visual arts team Culture Creative will be working in partnership with the Forestry Commission to light up the forest during February half term to produce a magical display of illuminated installations and interactive playscapes, guaranteed to bring the forest to life after dark.

The event follows on from a similar illumination at Bedgebury Forest in Kent during October half term last year, Thetford Forest in Suffolk in December The family-friendly trail, which is being billed as “part night hike and part creative adventure”, promises to take visitors on a journey of discovery deep into the forest and encourage them explore and interact with art installations that play on all the senses and harmonise with the spectacular forest illuminations scattered throughout.

A self-guided walking trail will be open from 6.30pm to 9pm daily and will take around an hour to complete at a pleasant pace.

Zoe Bottrell, producer and project manager at Culture Creative, said: “I am delighted that The Electric Forest will set Moors Valley ablaze with colour and light for the first time this winter.

“The imaginative and fun trail will offer something for everyone, with illuminated play areas, interactive mythophones and a fabulous tree top walkway that will allow visitors to see the forest from every which way possible.

“If you’re a runner, run, if you’re a walker, walk. Whatever your preferred mode of movement, come and enjoy the work of some of the country’s most talented outdoor artists set deep in the forest on a magical February evening.

“The Electric Forest promises the weird, the wonderful and the amazing.”

Zoe added that the team was also looking at ways to make The Electric Forest trail accessible to an even wider audience with the possibility of an additional route for “wheels”, including mountain bikes and accessible vehicles, which would be a first for The Electric Forest project.

“Watch the website for more details”, added Zoe.

Head of recreation and community engagement at the Forestry Commission Nick Tucker said: “Having seen first-hand what Culture Creative has achieved in some of our other forests, we anticipate a magical experience not to be missed.

“Visitors to Moors Valley Country Park and Forest will get to see and enjoy the forest in a whole new light.”

• Tickets for The Electric Forest event at Moors Valley Country Park and Forest cost £15.50 per adult and £10 for children (five to 16 yrs) and other concessions, or £41 for a family ticket (admitting two adults and two children), with parking included in the price. Under fives go free.

For more information or to book tickets visit theelectricforest.co.uk or call the Forestry Commission box office on 03000 680 400.

Warming refreshments to keep the winter chill at bay will be available on site on the night and don’t forget to bring a torch as some areas of the trail are less illuminated than others.