The UK attraction that only opens 10 days a year – and even famous celebs visit
HIDDEN in the heart of England is one of the most spectacular sights – but only on a few days a year.
Every year people flock from all over the world – even Malaysia and Singapore – to admire the millions of pastel colored flowers on Britain’s original confetti field at Wyke Manor Estate near Pershore, Worcestershire.
3
3
Described by Holly Willoughby as “absolutely beautiful”, “breathtaking” and “spectacular”, the Real Flower Petal Confetti Company’s stunning rows of delphiniums are dubbed a “field of happiness”. They bloom in bright colors and provide the perfect Instagram opportunity.
After the field is closed to visitors, the farmhands go to work harvesting the flowers to make 100 percent biodegradable wedding confetti.
They hand pick each individual petal and carefully dry them in the fresh air and sun to preserve their natural shape and color before selling them.
The confetti is sold by the pint – around ten handfuls – at a price of £12.50 and you can choose from a range of flowers including delphiniums, roses, lavender and bougainvillea.
King Charles and Queen Camilla even chose the pale pink delphinium confetti for their royal wedding in 2005.
And other celebs who have used the petals include Madonna and Guy Ritchie, Catherine Zeta Jones and Michael Douglas, and Take That for their Progress tour.
This year, the fields are open from June 30 to July 9, with ticket sales starting ten days before the opening.
You could easily make a weekend of it by staying at the 4H Wood Norton Hotel in the nearby market town of Evesham.
The Grade I listed Victorian Hall lies between two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty – the Cotswolds and the Malvern Hills.
The views are magnificent from the stunning formal gardens as well as from some of the hotel’s rooms.
There is a lot of history at Wood Norton, as in 1879 the French Prince Philippe, Duke of Orleans inherited the property and transformed it into the magnificent mansion it is today.
The BBC later bought Wood Norton in 1939 and it became a film and training location – most notably as a location for several episodes of Doctor Who in the 1970s.
The current hotel, which has 50 rooms in total, opened in 2012 after a £10m refurbishment.
The five most spectacular suites are designed as they were when the Duke of Orleans occupied them.
The bedrooms combine modern four-poster beds with the original wood paneling and place free-standing bathtubs in the middle of the bathrooms, which are much larger than necessary.
There are 30 smaller rooms in a separate building called the Pear Tree Mews, where the Duke of Orleans once had his exotic zoo with giraffes and zebras.
It has standard rooms big enough for a desk and armchair, and bathrooms with Molton Brown soap.
The hotel’s Fleur de Lys Brasserie – overlooking the south terrace and its stunning views – offers an excellent range of classic dishes at reasonable prices.
Breakfast offers everything from a full English and herring to fruit and cold cuts, while the lunch and dinner menu includes steak and sea bass, among others, as well as many vegetarian options.
Next door is a bar serving light snacks and cocktails, and here you can also enjoy a delicious three-tiered afternoon tea.
A historic hotel and an annual floral spectacle – what more could you ask for?
3
