The itison Pumpkin Fund
In 2019 we established the itison Pumpkin Fund to ensure with every GlasGLOW, there is positive impact in the local community.
Each GlasGLOW spreads lots of pumpkin joy across Glasgow and beyond – donating thousands of pumpkins to schools and community groups to carve which then go on display in our Pumpkin Patch - one of the best loved parts of our show…and also free to visit during the day.
We also donate 1000 free tickets each year to help people who might not be able to attend GlasGLOW otherwise – and fund a capital project in the local area where we can really help make a difference to those who need it most.
What we've achieved
Last year we raised an incredible £30,000 at GlasGLOW and have donated £15,000 to Eastpark in Maryhill – a brilliant charity that helps kids with complex needs including autism – to create a state-of-the-art new sensory room called The GLOW Room.
We’re also pledging £10,000 to help make improvements to the Children’s Garden within the Botanics – and in 2019, we donated a 16 seater minibus to Highpark Primary LCR in Ruchill.
Over the past few years we’ve donated thousands of pumpkins to schools and hospitals around Glasgow, lit up the Marie Curie Hospice at Christmas in 2019 and held free pumpkin carving workshops in the Botanics for kids in the local area.
Sustainability
We’re serious about reducing our carbon footprint. We want our shows, and our planet, to be around for a long time to come and are continuously reviewing the cleanest and greenest ways to deliver GlasGLOW.
Outdoor light trails take place in some of the most prestigious botanical gardens around the world and are a fantastic way to showcase the gardens and attract new visitors however we know events have impact, as does any activity, and we are working hard to minimise this as much as we can.
With that in mind, here’s what we’re doing to make GlasGLOW as environmentally friendly as possible...
- We use HVO to primarily power the event – a FAME free and fossil-free CO2 friendly alternative to regular diesel.
- Single use plastics are banned and we recycle as much as possible including food waste and all pumpkins featured on the Pumpkin Patch.
- We are partnering with SPT & First Bus to encourage our ticketholders to ditch the car where possible and walk, cycle or take public transport.
- We are working to source, and fund, a long-term solution on drawing from mains power. At the moment, we do so where we can and if it’s not an option, we use the most efficient generators possible alongside the latest LED lighting which has dramatically reduced power consumption.
- We commit to reduce, reuse and recycle wherever we can – this includes reusing previous scenic elements where possible to help reduce items going to landfill at the end of the event, as well as installing equipment that is part of the circular economy, and has already been or can be used in another event in the future.
- We encourage guests to avoid purchasing plastic and non-sustainable merchandise sold by unlicensed street vendors.
Protecting our Botanic Gardens
We have a world class production team with a broad range of experience of working within natural woodland and curated garden environments including Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh, Blenheim Palace World Heritage Site and The Forestry Commission
We work closely with GCC, Neighbourhood Services and the Gardens directly with a firm focus on preserving the grounds, paths, flora and fauna.
We stay on hardstanding path as much as possible, actively consult with wildlife experts, use small, directional speakers and keep noise at a low-level adhering to all guidance set by GCC. Our event runs for a short period of time with sound switched off by 10.30pm
We work within all guidelines provided by GCC and pay a five figure hire fee to use the Gardens in addition to an environmental levy to help with the upkeep
We also pay an upfront reinstatement bond to GCC in advance of the event – to ensure that remedial work can be quickly carried out in the instance of any accidental damage. In the past we haven’t always communicated this well with visitors to the Gardens and will be clearly signposting any areas where remedial work will be carried out after the event.
We have pledged annually to contribute £10,000 to help with upkeep and improvements of the Children’s Garden within the Botanics to make it a great space for our kids to enjoy for years to come
We are open to feedback and how we can get better – if you have any thoughts, suggestions or concerns, get in touch at glasglow@itison.com