Furzey Gardens, an enchanting secret garden tucked away in the heart of the New Forest National Park is getting a dinosaur-inspired makeover this summer, as it transforms into Jurassic Furzey – with art by comic creator Alan Langford part of the mix!
Well known as a place to unwind, discover and fall in love with, this summer Furzey Gardens will gain a thrilling trail that will bring dinosaurs to life, sparking imaginations and creating a prehistoric paradise for visitors of all ages.
Discover giant dinosaurs and eggs, beautifully decorated by community artists, hidden throughout the gardens. Whether you’re a dino enthusiast or just love a fun-filled day out, this unique experience promises excitement, discovery, and plenty of surprises along the way.
Installations include a stunning nine foot mural by Alan Langford, painted in acrylics inside of a week (aggravated by an unpleasant cold), in a thatched room that Furzey describe as the Bug Barn.
Furzey Gardens is a haven of peace and tranquility, run as a social enterprise of Minstead Trust, giving people with learning disabilities the opportunity to thrive.
The gardens were first planted by the Dalrymple family as an informal woodland garden in 1922: containing botanically and historically significant plant collections from around the world with a wide range of trees, shrubs and herbaceous perennials, such as Acers, Rhododendrons and Primulas.
Alan Langford is a freelance artist and illustrator who today specialises in equestrian subject matter; the painting of horses an occupation he finds both enjoyable and rewarding. But he began his career in comics, and has begun drawing them again, self publishing a graphic novel, The Secret of the Aesir, a stunning work combining SF and Viking mythology, in 2020.
He’s also very kindly provided downthetubes with “Doomed Covenant”, a comic strip you can read for free.
• Jurassic Furzey 24th May – 31st August 2025 Furzey Gardens School Lane, Minstead, SO43 7GL | More Details Online Here | Web: furzey-gardens.org
• Alan Langford is online at alanlangford.co.uk | downthetubes Comic Creator Spotlight: Alan Langford
• downthetubes presents… “Doomed Covenant” a comic strip by Alan Langford
• The Secrets of the Aesir by Alan Langford is available from Little Knoll Press | AmazonUK | Waterstones | GetMyComics | Read our review
• There’s more about the book at thesecretoftheaesir.com
- About the Author
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John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: Art and Illustration, British Comics, Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Events, Exhibitions, Other Worlds
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