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'One patient spent their last night with the lights'

Cheryl Dennis,in Winsleyand
Sophie Parker,Wiltshire
Alistair McIntyre/Dorothy House Hospice A closer-up view of the small lights that make up the larger installation: it is dark and lots of small lights on sticks are glowing in pink, yellow and blue.Alistair McIntyre/Dorothy House Hospice
Thousands of smaller installations - which can change colour - connect to make one huge one

A light show created by an artist in the grounds of a hospice has opened to the public until the end of December.

Dorothy House, in Winsley, near Bradford on Avon in Wiltshire, commissioned international light installation artist Bruce Munro to create the show in its grounds.

James Byron, from the hospice, said during the testing one patient came out of their room to spend their last night with the lights. "I think that tells you something about its power," he said.

The Moments of Light show also marks the hospice's 50th year.

Darren Harvey-Regan/Dorothy House Hospice Lots of small coloured lights on short sticks come up from the ground illuminating a view, including the night sky, with a cloud on one side and stars on the other. The silhouettes of trees are on either side.Darren Harvey-Regan/Dorothy House Hospice
People can look out over the valley and lights in the hospice grounds

Visitors can now look out over the valley with thousands of lights which can also change colour.

Artist Bruce Munro, who is also an ambassador with the charity, explained why he wanted to create it.

"Very sadly a young girl in our studio died and I'd never been to a hospice before and when I saw the love and care that she received it was a no-brainer.

"I think that you honour people and you keep their spirt and everything that they stood for alive. That is a joyful memory, so that's what this is all about," he added.

Darren Harvey-Regan/Dorothy House Hospice A shot of an installation during a sunset: a taller installation, with lots of sticks with shiny CDs on coming off a singular metal ball. It is illuminated blue. A silhouetted valley of trees in the background with a dark orange sky as the sun sets.Darren Harvey-Regan/Dorothy House Hospice
Thousands of CDs reflect the light as part of the artwork
Brunce Munro smiles at the camera: you can see his head and shoulders, He wears glasses, brown jacket and pink shirt. Blurred behind him is a green valley.
Artist Bruce Munro found out about the work of the hospice when someone he knew died

The hospice has had a section of light installations in woodland in the grounds for some time, many of which are dedicated to people. They are called fireflies, each made up of tiny separate lights between the trees.

Sue Philip, a volunteer with the hospice, said she loves seeing them.

"My daughter Jo died here in 2020. She spent the last few months of her life here being beautifually cared for by the staff and walking around the grounds.

"When Bruce introduced the fireflies, it just brought light back into my life, so she would love it."

A path through woodland at dusk - in amongst the bottom of the trees are sticks with lots of strings of light dangling off each like tentacles
The fireflies in woodland are dedicated to loved ones
Darren Harvey-Regan/Dorothy House Hospice The lights on the ground on small sticks with glowing balls on the end coloured purple, blue, green and red. At the back, the hospice building is a silhouette with a few lights on. The night sky is mostly clear with some cloud to the right.Darren Harvey-Regan/Dorothy House Hospice
People can book to see the lights until the end of December
Alistair McIntyre/Dorothy House Hospice Part of the light installation in daytime - focus on a singular stick from the ground with the ball on the end and CDs around it.Alistair McIntyre/Dorothy House Hospice
Bruce Monroe creates art light art installations around the world

The Moments of Light installation will be open for people to see until the end of December, with Dorothy House saying it offers "a space for reflection, remembrance and connection".

People can book free tickets online, with the hospice asking for a donation.

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