Page 127 - HMS 2020

Estate News
An update by Thomas Abel-Smith
The Woodhall Estate has been impacted by the coronavirus crisis like most businesses; for us this has included the cancellation of all events in 2020. We have also been unable
to carry out routine maintenance
in many of the estate’s properties and new residential lettings were restricted for a period.
However, our works continue at pace. The general upkeep of the estate is colossal and never-ending, and we have used the time to double down on vital improvement works, which can be achieved with minimal contact to others. In particular, we have several ongoing projects to enhance our various event venues. This includes working to develop the Garden House and Walled Gardens, which lie adjacent to the school grounds.
The Garden House, which used
to accommodate the park’s head gardener and in later years rented by the school for the Headmaster’s house, is an attractive Georgian house built into the Walled Gardens.
We are redecorating, furnishing and equipping it for short-term hire and holidays. When coupled with the Walled Gardens, we anticipate the venue also being used for weddings, performing arts and outdoor cinema.
The Walled Gardens require significant ongoing restoration, which we
have started during lockdown and which will continue this summer.
This includes repair work to the historic walls, pillars and paths, and the grass which has been relevelled and reseeded. We have planted wildflowers around the perimeter and have resurfaced the road that serves the Walled Gardens as well as making improvements for parking. We have also installed a fibre optic cable into the park, which is essential for future corporate events and meetings.
In February, the estate management team was joined by Jenni Eley, Events and Enterprise Manager, who was previously at ITV where she
was Director of Experiences. Whilst the timing with coronavirus has been unfortunate and it has slowed us down, we are still marching on. We look forward to the time when restrictions on events are lifted
and we can launch our enhanced event venues with an exciting, varied programme. Watch this space!
Thomas Abel-Smith
@WoodhallEstate www.woodhallestate.co.uk
As some may know, the Walled
Gardens and a nearby ancient oak tree in the park gained fame last year when they were used as a location for the filming of The Secret Garden starring Colin Firth and Julie Walters, due for release in August 2020.
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