Сад Хестеркомб в Соммерсете отметил миллионный посетитель спустя 20 лет после реставрации

Back in 2015, a historic country estate in Somerset celebrated its millionth visitor since opening in 1997. Hestercombe Gardens marked the milestone when David Hinchcliffe of Corfe visited. The ‘VIP’ millionth guest and his wife Patsy were presented with a bottle of champagne, a year’s family membership, and a voucher for £50 to spend in the shop and plant centre. Philip White, chief executive of Hestercombe, said at the time: “Reaching a million visitors is an exciting landmark and it is hard to believe that 20 years ago the valleys were engulfed by trees, lakes silted up, and buildings destroyed.” A delighted Mr Hinchcliffe said: “What a surprise – I am honoured to be the millionth visitor to step into Hestercombe Gardens. "My wife and I will enjoy visiting throughout the year with our membership to explore the gardens and visit the gallery.” The three gardens at Hestercombe were designed by Coplestone Warre Bampfylde, Lord Portman, and Edwin Lutyens. The project to restore the neglected estate to its former glory was launched by Philip White in 1995. The doors opened two years later – for the first time in 125 years – and the gardens were an immediate hit, welcoming 32,000 visitors in the first year. The Hestercombe Gardens Trust took over management of the site in 2003 and was awarded a £3.7m grant by the Heritage Lottery Fund to continue restoring the site and to purchase the stables to create the visitor centre. The house was acquired from Somerset County Council in 2013, and by 2015, more than 80,000 people were visiting the house every year.