Fountain fires for Witley Court's Easter opening

Witley Court’s famous Perseus and Andromeda fountain will resume its regular firing on Saturday 31 March as the historic site celebrates a spring return to daily opening with water, blooms and chocolate bunnies!

The ruined Victorian country house and its extensive garden open daily for visits from 30 March, although it is likely to be the Easter weekend when families flock to the site with the promise of Lindt chocolate bunnies for children completing its Family Fun Trail, which runs from Good Friday (6 April) to Easter Monday (9 April). Families will be challenged to uncover all of the eggs that have been hidden around the grounds by the Easter bunny, recording the letter written on each to help decode a secret message, with the bunny being awarded to those who reveal the secret password!

Easter visitors will also be treated to the first flush of flowers in the East Parterre garden, the reconstruction of which was completed last year. The East Parterre provides colour all year round, thanks to its evergreen box hedging and colourful gravels, but it really comes into its own in the spring and summer months as different planting schemes start to bloom, recreating the technicolour scrolled pattern that would have graced Witley Court during its Victorian heyday.

“We really have got more than ever before for visitors to enjoy at Witley Court, with the new lakeside walks adding another route around the grounds. Even visitors who come back every year comment on how fantastic the site is looking now, and how much more is accessible – they often don’t want to go home!” comments site manager, Anna Pearsall. “In fact, they will have a chance to stay a little longer in May, when we re-open the site after dark for one night only of special evening tours on Friday 18 May, but in the meantime, hopefully the chocolate prize at the end of the trail will be a good substitute!

Witley Court & Gardens is located near Great Witley on the A443, 10 miles North West of Worcester. The site is open daily from 10.00am to 5.00pm (6.00pm in July and August) from 31 March to 4 November. Admission prices are £6.50 for adults, £5.90 for concessions and £3.90 for children, with a family ticket available for £16.90 (two adults and up to three children). English Heritage members get in free.

For more information, please visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/witleycourt or call 01299 896636 or 0870 333 1183.

ENDS

For further media information, or for a copy of English Heritage's 2012 events press pack for the West Midlands, please contact:

Jay Commins – PRO English Heritage (West Midlands)

Tel: 0113 251 5698

Mob: 07810 546567

Email: jay@fim.org.uk