Mon, April 4th, 2022

Spring has sprung

The equinox on 20^th March heralded the beginning of spring and Picton Castle Gardens could not have looked more beautiful on that day. The magnolias have put on a spectacular display this year with their vibrant flowers opening in mid-March. Unfortunately, magnolias only bloom for a couple of weeks each year and most flowers had already dropped by April so we hope you were lucky enough to see them.

At the end of March we waved a fond farewell to one of our longest serving members of staff. Sue Evans has been a castle tour guide at Picton for over 16 years and on Wednesday 30^th March staff celebrated her retirement. Maria baked some delicious cakes and we enjoyed an elegant afternoon tea in the Great hall. It is safe to say that Picton Castle Gardens will not be the same without Sue and we wish her well as she begins this new chapter in her life.

We also held a successful open afternoon for perspective volunteers in our great hall. We were really pleased with how many people attended and signed up to volunteer with us. Our volunteers play an integral role in preserving Picton Castle and its wonderful gardens for future generations and we wouldn’t be able to run without them. Like so many other charities our volunteer numbers dropped dramatically during the pandemic and we are thrilled to be recruiting new people. Do not worry if you did not come along to our open afternoon, it is not too late to sign up if you think volunteering at Picton might be for you.

Everyone at Picton has been extremely busy preparing the gardens and castle for the beginning of the tourist season. With so many still choosing to holiday at home we are expecting to welcome record numbers to the gardens this year. We have more to offer than ever before, making a trip to Picton imperative for any visitor to Pembrokeshire, as much as it is for the local community. The Welsh Owl Garden and Zoo have expanded and introduce more animals to the collection, including extremely cute mongoose and a polecat. Our exquisite birds have been busy flying in practice for the flying displays that are taking place three times a day from now on. The walled garden and heritage centre is looking fabulous now that work has been completed in the interpretation buildings and we are happy to be welcoming back the ‘Potting Shed’ mobile café to this area throughout our busiest periods. We have also invested in more picnic benches throughout the gardens to ensure there is space for everyone to enjoy food while here.