Forester Clearwell caves to host musical extravaganza

LEARWELL Caves will come alive to the sounds of the rainforest during a special underground musical extravaganza.

Gloucestershire Symphony Orchestra is taking over the tourist attraction for Celebration of the Natural World.

RAINFOREST CREATURES: Clearwell pupils Sasha Buzzard, left, and Beth Tudball with their creations for the concert. INSET: Moonflower. Main photo: Daniel Martino
INTREPID: Margaret Mee.

And school children will be helping them set the scene by bringing a touch of the Amazonian jungle to the old iron mines.

Pupils from Clearwell CofE School are busy creating models and paintings of wildlife from the rainforests of South America to go on display at the event which will combine music, movement and art.

But centrepiece of the evening will be a performance of a composition by celebrated Gloucestershire guitarist Hayley Savage.

Hayley composed Luna Nueva after a visit to the Amazon and the music was inspired by conservationist Margaret Mee's 24 year odyssey to capture the rare beauty of the elusive Brazilian moonflower.

Botanical artist Mrs Mee recorded the flora and fauna of the Amazon jungle and was the first person to draw the moonflower, which blooms just once a year at night.

Ms Savage's emotive composition describes the flight of a bird through the rainforest and ends with the opening and closing of the moonflower.

The choir from Primrose Hill CofE School will sing and perform a special piece recreating the opening of the moonflower.

The mid-summer spectacular will also include Dvorak's In Nature's Realm, Elgar's Wand of Youth and will finish with Dukas' The Sorcerer's Apprentice, the music from one of the most popular scenes in Walt Disney's 'Fantasia'.

Tickets include buffet, short guided tour of caves, and concert.

The tour of caves starts at 6pm and the concert 8pm.

Adults £16, concessions £14, under 18 years £6, family ticket £36 Tickets at the cave entrance, or in advance.

Teacher Sarah John said the children enjoyed getting involved as part of their studies.

"They have absolutely loved it," she said. "They have been looking at pictures of the rainforest and then making their own 3D models of bugs and sloths." Details from Clearwell Caves on 01594 832535 or Coleford tourist information.