Tulip fields open for Norfolk Hospice

Visitors had travelled from around the country for the spectacle.

A twelve acre field near the Sandringham Estate was planted with 6.3 million bulbs last November and with the help of an army of volunteers and the team at Norfolk Tulips, Michael Rae and Roydon Hall Farms the first visitors of this season's event arrived to find a stunning display of colour.

Lewis Eves explained: "The weather wasn't with us last autumn and the bulbs were planted quite late in November. 

"The heads from this tulip field will go to the Spalding Tulip Parade to decorate their floats.

"The bulbs will be lifted in June or July then be put into a cold store to simulate winter conditions before forcing in our glass houses in Terrington and the cut flowers will hit the supermarkets in January."

The 25,000 tickets to this year's event sold out in 90 minutes when they were released on 8th April and at one stage there were 127,00 people looking at the website.

Supporting the the event and providing music from 1-4pm today are the KL1 team of Richard Dix, Paul Baker and Richard Tree.