Tulip celebrations at Hever Castle

Tulip Celebrations come once again to Hever Castle for the next 7 days:  18 – 27 APRIL

The second Tulip Celebrations event as part of the Tulip Festival at Hever Castle & Gardens will be even bigger with 20,000 tulips in bloom in the stunning grounds of the childhood home of Anne Boleyn.

Visitors will be able to enjoy a tulip trail either self-guided or with Hever’s Head Gardener Neil Miller and marvel at the 20,000 tulips, in a myriad of colours and different varieties planted in the Castle grounds; along the architecturally stunning Pompeiian Wall, in the traditional Tudor Garden and the sumptuous Italian Garden.

The Italian Garden at Hever will play host to the largest of the tulip planting displays with a kaleidoscope of colours fanning down the length of the gardens towards the Loggia and the lake.

The history of the tulip will also be celebrated this year with displays and information in the Castle about the Elizabethan horticultural boom where gardens were beginning to expand to include flowers and plants brought from around the globe, including the tulip bulb from Turkey. Visitors can discover artefacts and paintings in the Castle relating to the gardening craze including a portrait of Margeurite de Valois in the Inner Hall which features tulips on the bodice of her dress.

The striking blooms will continue inside the Castle with tulip displays by in-house florist Pamela Brise.

Head Gardener Neil Miller said: “This year we want to share more about the history of the flower and tie it in with the famous residents who lived at Hever Castle itself. We know that the tulip was officially introduced into the Tudor gardens of England in 1578. John Gerard’s ‘Herballor General Historie of Plantes’, a book detailing plants of Tudor times, actually lists the plants in his own garden as including 30 different species of tulip.

“As the Tudor world expanded, so did the Tudor garden which were transformed in the 16th century by new species brought from Spain, France, Turkey, Portugal and eventually the Americas. As ‘Tulipmania’ swept through the Netherlands in the 17th Century its effect was felt in England as tulips became a feature of the plant collector’s garden. We want our Tulip Celebrations this year to really thank these early pioneer gardeners – without whom our gardens in the UK would be far less colourful in springtime.”

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Always check details before travelling. Hever Castle reserves the right to close all or part of the Castle, grounds, catering outlets and activities, and to change or cancel and events. Please note that use of partner offers may be restricted or not valid on event days.

Other Events

ST GEORGE’S DAY: 22 APRIL

Celebrate St George’s Day with the family at Hever. Hear tales of George’s adventures and meet his dragon – Flame – and try to avoid his smoke and ear splitting roar!

MAY DAY FESTIVAL, MAY BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND: 29 APRIL – 1 MAY

Celebrate May Day at Hever Castle with a weekend of fun family activities and traditional May Day customs.

Join the Lord and Lady of the May on the Castle forecourt and see the crowning of the May Queen. Visitors are invited to dance around the Maypole with brightly coloured ribbons intertwined. This age old custom is followed by demonstrations of May Day Dancing accompanied by 16th century music.

Meet the mythical Jack-in-the-Green. Follow the Green Man from folklore in a customary May Day procession through the gardens as he wakes up the plants for summer with the help of children and their magical May bells. Full event details here.

For more information and for ticket prices please see Hever Castle’s website: https://www.hevercastle.co.uk/news/whats-on-in-april-at-hever-castle/

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