Girl Guide Gardeners at Arundel Castle

Members of the Guide section from Girlguiding West Sussex have enjoyed a money can’t buy experience at Arundel Castle – a sleepover in the Keep!

The 15 Guides were invited to spend a night at the Castle in thanks for their stellar efforts in helping the gardens team plant its spring bulbs.

The Gardens will welcome larger displays in the new year than ever seen before at Arundel Castle, with more than 86,000 blooms planted, including a record 36,000 tulips which will form its renowned Annual Tulip Festival.

The flowers are expected to blossom in time for the Castle’s reopening on 01 April 2017, meaning that visitors will be greeted by a dazzling array of colours and floral scents.

This year is the fourth time that the Guides have contributed to the planting efforts at Arundel Castle, a task which helps towards the completion of their Baden Powell Challenge Award – the highest award in the Guide section of Girlguiding.

Guide Leader Gillian Almond commented: “Arundel Castle is a fabulous and memorable venue for the girls participating in the Baden Powell Challenge. It is fantastic to be able to support them on their journey and be part of their infectious enthusiasm for guiding.”

Head Gardener Martin Duncan added: “It is so rewarding to see young people taking an interest in our gardens – and learning skills that can benefit their gardens at home!

“We look forward to welcoming the Guides each year, they are a real credit to their unit. The hard work that goes into planting our bulbs in the winter is returned ten-fold when the beautiful flowers blossom in the spring. We look forward to inviting the girls back next year to see the fruits of their labour.”

Arundel Castle will reopen to visitors on 01 April 2017. For more information, please visit www.arundelcastle.org.