Spring has well and truly arrived in Wells – and it's brought a riot of colour with it.

More than 40,000 tulip bulbs have burst into bloom at The Bishop's Palace Gardens, transforming the historic site into a dazzling display of yellow, red and pink this April.

Back in November, a mammoth planting mission saw 20,000 new Tulip sylvestris bulbs added to the ramparts bank and south lawn. The bold yellow blooms now stretch across the gardens, creating what staff describe as a "golden carpet" of colour and scent.

They join hundreds more tulips already growing in the Quiet Garden under the birch trees, including vibrant varieties like Little Beauty and Red Shine.

The colourful transformation is the vision of Head Gardener James Cross, who said the job was no small feat. Volunteers spent hours digging through winter mud, using cutlery knives to plant the bulbs and slipping down steep banks in the cold.

"We wanted a golden yellow carpet of tulips and a beautiful scent which I think we've achieved," he said. "But it was a mammoth task with lots of volunteer help, including using cutlery knives to plant the bulbs and lots of slipping down the steep banks in the winter weather!"

It's all paid off – the results are drawing in crowds and turning heads.

Visitors can see the tulips for themselves with a standard admission ticket to the Palace. And with the blooms at their peak, it's worth a trip while the display lasts.

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