Around 7,000 tulips will be standing to colourful attention at Hever Castle and Gardens’ first Tulip Celebration.

It has been a labour of love for the 11-strong gardening team, who look after 60 varieties planted along the Pergola Walk, Pompeiian Wall, Tudor Garden and Italian Garden.

Due to the unusually mild weather, the flowers have bloomed early, but should last for several weeks.

Visitors will be able to collect a leaflet from the Information Centre for a self-guided tulip trail through the grounds until Sunday, May 7.

Head gardener Neil Miller will be leading free garden tours from Monday, April 24 to Friday, April 28 and Tuesday, May 2 and Sunday, May 7, apart from the bank holiday weekend, at 11.30am daily.

Neil said: “The tulips look spectacular planted en masse in either a kaleidoscope of mixed colours or in uniform. Lots of plants have a limited colour palette but the tulip comes in every colour from purple to green.”

The team have planted 3,500 tulips around the castle walls using Orange Lion interplanted with Erysimum Vulcan, a dwarf variety of wallflower with velvety crimson flowers. The Italian Garden also has 2,000 tulips planted in formal displays, using unusual green varieties such as Spring Green, which is white with a green stripe and Evergreen, which is green with a yellow stripe.

A short talk on the history of the tulip will be held daily at 2pm while inside the castle will be dressed with tulips by resident florist Pamela Brise.

The gardens are open from 10.30am and the castle from noon. For admission and other details visit hevercastle.co.uk or call 01732 865224.