On Saturday 22nd April we welcomed our volunteers, sponsors, large daffodil designers, beneficiary charities and all our wonderful supporters to a special preview event. Over the previous three days we had been blessed with perfect weather for planting and now the scene has been set. Well over 250 people attended the launch and it really was a joy and a privilege to see them enjoying this truly amazing display. Here are just a few of their comments:

“So wonderful to see this project community come together and the results are just “wow””

 “Just wow! I got goosebumps. What a creation, what a team!” 

“The daffodils looked amazing and it was lovely to see so many people who had taken part in this project”

After wandering along the paths at the display we gathered in the Lowther cafe where the catering team had laid on a fabulous spread of drinks and canapés and Helen said a few words:

“We made it!!! It’s been an absolute blast. What a journey. In just four and a half months, together, we have created an extremely special art installation and we will have raised some £350,000 and rather crazily made 15,000 ceramic daffodils. This project has shown me what an incredible thing community can be. Look what we can do when we mobilise ourselves behind a project that excites and inspires. Many of you have asked me ‘what’s next Helen’? Well I have had an idea…….. Only joking!!!

To all of you our fabulous volunteers; the Daffodil Club – my husband Nick, Emma & Chris Bray , Michael & Helen Reed, Jane Petrie and Helen Tallentire; Charlotte Fairbairn; Crowd funders, personal sponsors; Business Sponsors the Westmorland Family Rheged & Tebay, The Hadfield Trust, The Quiet Site,  Ullswater Way Holiday Cottages, IJ Curry and Son Builders, A W Jenkinson; Supplier sponsors – Northern Kilns, Valentine Clays, Greenlight Packaging, H&H Auction Rooms, RH Nuttall, Cabinkraft; all the big daff glaze designers Jim Robison, Rory Stewart, Mary Chappelhow, James Rebanks, William Plumtre, Dan Pearson, Jim Lowther, Matilda Windross, Nia Griffitths; Mark Williamson our photographer and Charles Watson who did the drone shots; and to our Golden Hosts Lowther Castle – Jim and Vanessa thank you for your generous support on the project.   THANK YOU!!

The evening concluded with Amy Bray founder of Another Weigh speaking on behalf of all the beneficiary charities and her sister Anna who sang a tearjerking rendition of Wordsworth’s Daffodils poem. It was indeed an amazing evening.