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Daffodil peak blooming period for visitors to Hever Castle near Edenbridge

Thousands of daffodils are set to bloom for visitors to a Kent castle soon.

Peak blooming period for the yellow flowers at Hever Castle near Edenbridge is usually mid March, though due to unseasonably cool temperatures, it may be nearer to April this year.

Daffodils will be in bloom soon at Hever Castle
Daffodils will be in bloom soon at Hever Castle

There are tens of thousands of daffodils in the castle gardens and grounds, which are open to local visitors who can take a self-guided tour at the childhood home of Anne Boleyn.

There are thousands in Anne Boleyn’s Orchard and a heavenly display beside the Golden Staircase, close to the Festival Theatre; in the gardens of Two Sisters, and on the Outer Moat.

The Lake also has a daffodil trail with narcissus planted in drifts close to the boathouse and Water Maze, while at the head of the lake at Smugglers Walk, swathes of delicate daffodils can be found close to the weir.

The gardening team, led by head gardener Neil Miller, have planted more than 8,000 new daffodils onsite, with 7,000 at the entrance to the castle and 1,000 on the opposite bank of the Outer Moat, mirroring their cousins on the other side, taking the total number of daffodils on site to almost 50,000.

Neil said: “Seeing those first shoots poking through the ground and watching them push their buds upwards and then opening is always a magical moment for us at Hever.

Thousands have been planted at Hever Castle
Thousands have been planted at Hever Castle

"Over the last few years, with the help of daffodil expert Johnny Walkers, we have boosted the daffodil population at Hever and it now includes thousands more bulbs and many more exciting and new varieties.”

One of the first perennials to bloom after the frost, daffodils are a symbol of positivity, resilience and the promise of what’s to come.

Mixed daffodils at the Loggia Picture: Hever Castle and Gardens
Mixed daffodils at the Loggia Picture: Hever Castle and Gardens

In Park Wood itself, along the Woodland Walk, ancient N. Telemonius Plenus daffodils were discovered two years ago. It is thought some were planted at the turn of the 20th century, and some more than a century before.

To get pre-booked tickets and find out more about visiting go to hevercastle.co.uk

The season will be followed by tulips. Click here to find out more.

For more places to visit across Kent click here.

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