Joomla 1.5 Template By Youjoomla.com

1 April is D-Day for the staff of historic Arundel Castle as the gates are opened on a new season.  The magnificent gardens and Castle, together with the keep and gatehouse, have been a popular tourist attraction since the beginning of the 19th century.

“Although we are closed to visitors during the winter”, says Castle Manager Bryan McDonald, “it is in fact our busiest time as we undertake essential conservation and maintenance work, plan and prepare exciting new events and ideas for the new season.”

Since the gates closed last October, the Castle’s garden team has been on full throttle. It’s been a busy time for the seven-strong garden team and volunteers, preparing the grounds and ornamental garden to ensure the flora and fauna are in tip-top condition.

“It is vital to prepare throughout the chilly season to ensure the garden thrives and flourishes when the Castle opens its drawbridge to the public on 1 April”, adds Bryan.

New attractions this year include the glorious restoration of The Rose Garden, complete with gothic iron gates and benches, new pathways and over 100 old English roses newly planted.

Also totally new for 2010 is a remarkable Labyrinth and stone circle sewn with a colourful wild flower centre piece, in the stunning Collector Earl’s Garden. Adjacent to the Collector Earl’s Garden are new herbaceous borders which run through to the organic Kitchen Garden.

The castle team have been just as busy inside the Gothic castle where the Barons’ Hall houses a newly acquired ‘Crowns and Crests Heraldic Exhibition’. With its hammer-beam roof of estate-grown oak, and stained glass windows depicting scenes from the lives of the Earls of Arundel, the Hall makes the perfect setting for this exhibition of heraldry. 

The striking display comprises 45 carved and painted wooden heraldic crests and crowns. It brings together many of the colourful Garter crests and crowns dating from the Queen’s reign to create an impressive body of three-dimensional heraldry. The result is a glorious mêlée of golden crowns, lions, eagles, fabulous beasts and other elements of heraldic design.

To ensure the visitor experience is at its best, acclaimed food consultant Arjen Westerdijk has been appointed to mastermind a new local food initiative for the Castle’s popular restaurant alongside a brand new Coffee Shop for those wanting lighter refreshments.

“This is part of the Castle Trustees’ long-held determination to showcase local food and embrace ethical tourism”, according to Bryan McDonald. “It’s an ethos keenly apparent in many of our recent initiatives.”

The restaurant boasts a completely new menu which focuses heavily on local produce from local suppliers. Specialities include game and pork from the Arundel Castle estate, South Downs lamb, Littlehampton fish, and bread from a well-known Sussex artisan baker.

Excited by the culinary opportunities, Arjen says: “The emphasis for all the food will be local and fresh. We are thrilled to include so much local food on the menu, especially Selsey crab which is caught in the morning and on the table at lunchtime. That’s the beauty of using regional produce.”

Arundel Castle is open Tuesday to Sunday (and August & Bank Holiday Mondays) from 10am. Details at www.arundelcastle.org