CactusWorld Live This Weekend!

[Werewolf]

Admission and Opening Times

CactusWorld Live takes place at Lullingstone Castle in Eynsford, Kent DA4 0JA from 21st to 22nd September. Entry will be £5 each for BCSS members and for their accompanying partner. Members will need to bring their membership card to claim the concessionary price. Standard admission will be £10. Children under 15 will be admitted free. There will be ample free parking for cars and coaches (by arrangement). Opening times are 11:00-17:00 both days.

Show, Displays, Nurseries and Booksellers

The two big marquees will be brim full of attractions. A full show will be on view with over 40 classes of great cacti and succulents competing for bespoke awards and there is even a RHS Banksian Medal for the exhibitor scoring the most points. A separate area has been reserved for novice exhibitors looking to have some fun on the day (see panel). In addition to this there will be displays of echeverias, euphorbias, haworthias, mesembs, Mexican cacti, sedums and sempervivums.

CactusWorld Live also features a major mart and is looking forward to welcoming Craig Barber (William’s Cacti), Graham Blunt (Plantbase UK), Graham Charles, Eric Ellis, Chris Haysom & Vicky Davies (C&V Cacti), Daniel Jackson (Ottershaw Cacti), Richard Keyte (Helios Cacti), Keith Larkin (Keith’s Plant Books), David Neville, Ralph Northcott (Cactus Shop), John Pilbeam, Bob & Beryl Potter, Stuart Riley (Plant Life), Doug Sizmur (Kent Cacti), Craig Thompson and Carlos Zeferino (Woodside Cacti) to tempt us with their wares.

There will be promotional and or sales stands from Chelmsford, Croydon, Lea Valley, North Surrey and Woking Branches, plus Zone 14 will have its own gazebo with a tombola and other attractions.

Speakers and Tours

Guest speakers are Anne Swithinbank and Jane Perrone, while an undoubted highlight of the weekend will be the tours of the World Garden led by Tom Hart Dyke himself. Society speakers include Graham Blunt, Jonathan Clark, Vicky Davies, Paul Spracklin, Ian Thwaites and Colin Walker.

Family entertainment and other attractions

CactusWorld Live will be a great day out for the whole family and will be offering free children’s entertainment with face painting, balloon artistry, foam clay, colouring and quizzes. In addition, there will be a “selfie station” where you can dress in our Mexican ponchos and Sombreros and photograph your family in an appropriate setting!

Lullingstone Castle’s popular annual Mexican Celebration Weekend will also include tours of the castle, dahlia displays, Mexican food and a Mariachi band.

Directions

Lullingstone Castle is situated in the village of Eynsford, Kent (postcode DA4 0JA), just over five minutes’ drive from Junction 3 of the M25. Take the A20 (not the M20) and follow the brown signs towards Brands Hatch, then turn right at the top of the hill, signposted Eynsford (A225), shortly after the second roundabout. Follow this road for about a mile to the centre of Eynsford and turn right opposite the church into Riverside, signposted St Botolph’s Church and Lullingstone Roman Villa, into Riverside. Drive over the bridge that crosses the ford and stay on this road past the Roman Villa, after which it is marked private, to the Tudor Gatehouse on the right. There will be parking near the Gatehouse with an overflow car park in the field opposite. Access to the estate is via the Gatehouse archway.

Coaches and Minibuses

Coaches and minibuses are welcome but parking is in the A225 carpark at postcode DA4 0HX. There is no access for these vehicles via Riverside and Lullingstone Lane because of bylaws and the width of the road. Coach and minibus parking is free but spaces need to be booked in advance by phoning 01322 862114