A 17th century country house is to launch its first spring festival.

Set in the daffodil pleasure gardens of Petworth House the festival will feature talks, demonstrations, art and craft workshops, family activities and thousands of spring blooms.

The festival will run from March 23 to April 14. Normal admission applies.

A two-day makers' market will kick things off, held in partnership with Petworth Pop-Up, where visitors will find artisan gifts and a range of handmade products including jewellery, homeware, textiles and art.

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From March 23 to 29 gardening enthusiasts will be treated to a series of free talks and demonstrations from specialist speakers in the garden theatre, including horticulturalist and broadcaster Frances Tophill, garden designer and presenter Arit Anderson, author Robyn Booth, colour history expert and curator of Brighton Pavilion Dr Alexandra Loske, and Caroline Ikin, curator of Gertrude Jekyll’s former home Munstead Wood.

Guided foraging walks with Terra Vitum will offer a chance to connect with nature and explore the woodlands, meadows and hedgerows of the park and gardens, explaining the myths, folklore, history and edibility of common and unusual wild food.

For the creative-minded, there will be fun and informative spring-themed, bookable workshops including botanical drawing, wreath making, lino cut spring and Easter card making and willow weaving where participants will learn the techniques to craft their own natural sculptures.

There is a packed family programme during the Easter holidays, with drop-in crafts available in the Battery House from April 3 to 10 for £3 per child and the buggy-friendly paths of the pleasure garden can be explored on a free family trail, with activities along the way and six nature-inspired willow sculptures to discover.

The garden will be carpeted in radiant daffodils thanks to the 4,000 new bulbs the gardeners have been busy planting. Petworth’s gardens and outdoor manager Martyn Burkinshaw will be giving tours of the pleasure garden from March 25 to 29.