Hever Castle has planted thousands of tulips for 2021 after last year s flowers bloomed in lockdown
|
Updated: 15:47, 23 February 2021
Thousands of white tulips with red tips have been planted to greet visitors to a Kent castle garden this spring after last year s displays could not been seen by visitors due to the first national lockdown.
The team at Hever Castle near Edenbridge wanted the 2021 display to be spectacular, after last year s bloomed while the gates were closed.
Tulips at Hever Castle Picture: Hever Castle & Gardens
Currently displaying snowdrops to local visitors, after March s daffodils, by the third week of April, the multi-coloured flowers will provide a colourful trail throughout the gardens.
England s most glorious places to visit on April 12
Where to set your sights for England s first big reopening date
Flowers in the grounds of Hever Castle
Credit: John Glover
If the roadmap stays on track, April 12 will herald some joyous firsts in England. The first outdoor meet-up in your Rule of Six social circle (or between your household and another); the first pint or pub lunch (strictly outdoors, of course); the first overnight in a self-catering UK holiday rental.
But where to head first? Depending on your interests and intentions, our experts suggest.
For wild splendour (with handy facilities)
You ll want to meet somewhere lovely, of course – but also somewhere with good facilities, parking, food options and plenty of space. The following places all fit the bill.
Spring – and hope – is in the air
Credit: Hever Castle
Spring – and hope – is in the air. Bluebells, daffodils and tulips are pushing up through the soil, and dormant trees are budding and bursting into life. And perhaps (whisper it) we may be able to enjoy the new beginning with friends and family this spring: outdoors and at a distance, perhaps, but closer than we’ve been in months.
If you are planning a spring reunion, look to these glorious parks and gardens in the grounds of Britain’s loveliest palaces, estates and castles. Crucially, the essentials are covered too: each location offers toilets and outdoor cafes or takeaway food.