Leeds Castle News

• Leeds Castle Visitors Vote 'Dancing Through the Delphiniums' as Festival of Flowers Favourite!

  Thousands of visitors to Festival of Flowers event at Leeds Castle have voted the display by The Dorchester’s Head Florist, Philip Hammond as their favourite design for 2019.

  Philip’s design was sponsored by Meijer for the Queen’s Gallery and entitled ‘Dancing through the Delphiniums’. It attracted lots of attention for its vibrant colour, perfumed fragrance and show-stopping design.

  The annual Festival of Flowers has become a firm favourite in the Castle’s calendar with prestigious International floral designers, visitors of all ages to the Castle and social media influencers!

  Each year, the principal State rooms inside “the loveliest Castle in the world” are transformed through incredible floristry designed to a theme – this year ‘a Floral Party’ in recognition of the Castle’s 900th anniversary.

  Across the six day event, the Castle welcomed over 21,000 visitors and people voted in the thousands for their favourite display – a very close race given the calibre of the designers this year.

  Returning prestigious designers

• 'Then and Now' Leeds and Broomfield Cricket Club

  To commemorate Leeds Castle’s 900th anniversary, we have released a series of photographs entitled ‘Then and Now’. 

  Using images from the Castle’s archives, we have replicated pictures of past staff and family members using the modern Leeds Castle teams. 

  One image that was uncovered from the archive was a circa 1900s shot of ‘Leeds Cricket Club’ as it was then – now known as ‘Leeds and Broomfield Cricket Club’. 

  Our PR Officer invited the current team in to recreate the photograph on the exact same spot on the Castle’s drawbridge and this is the result! 

  We would like to thank Club President Dave Wratten, Chairman Rick Mustill and 1st XI Captain Max Aitken for helping us make this fantastic photo happen. 

  The full set of ‘Then and Now’ pictures will be on exhibition in the Castles Queen’s Bedroom until Christmas.  
  

• A dazzling celebration at the Carnival of History!

  On Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th July, thousands of visitors flocked to Leeds Castle from across Kent to celebrate its 900th anniversary with the Carnival of History.
  

  Visitors were treated to a whole weekend of family friendly activities including authentic re-enactment shows, pop-up music performances, large-scale costumes and a spectacular riot of colour and celebration. 

   For the first time, 900 years of history came to life with nine centuries of professional performers, artists, dancers and community groups processing through the estate and culminating in a grand finale with tightrope walkers and daytime fireworks. Never before has the historic Castle seen such diversity represented through the various participants who came together to celebrate this landmark anniversary. 

  The 900 years has already been marked with a limited edition gin, a time capsule, a specially-commissioned tribute premiered at the Classical Concert and the opening of The Knights’ Stronghold Playground and an adventure golf course. 

  Chief Executive Sir David Steel expressed

• Behind the Teams: Leeds Castle Falconry and Wildlife Manager

  As part of our new ‘Behind the Teams’ series, step behind the scenes of Leeds Castle and hear from the experts who work here about their day-to-day work, where their passions lie, and what their jobs involve.

  
  

  1. How long have you been at Leeds Castle? 

  I started at Leeds Castle on the 6th February 2012, so just over 7 years. 

  2. What does a typical day at work look like to you? 

  When dealing with animals there is no such thing as a typical day, that’s what makes the job so entertaining and different. But usually - and most importantly - it starts with a cup of tea! In the morning, we check on all of our birds; give them fresh water and a clean; put the birds out on weathering ground for visitors to see; clean out the Mews (overnight quarters) and prepare their food for the day. I also have

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