New greenhouse for stately home
A popular Norfolk stately home is set to save thousands in bills for plants after planning permission was granted to rebuild a glasshouse in its kitchen garden.
A popular Norfolk stately home is set to save thousands in bills for plants after planning permission was granted to rebuild a glasshouse in its kitchen garden.
The 1960s glasshouse at Oxburgh Hall had to be demolished after it was declared structurally unsound several years ago.
Now, after having received planning permission from Breckland Council and thanks to thousands of pounds raised through donations and sponsorship, a new structure can be built on the same site.
It will mean staff at the hall can grow all the plants needed for the grounds each year and grow extras to be sold to visitors.
Head gardener Graham Donachie said: 'The glasshouse is very important to us as we will be able to grow plants from seed once more.
'This will include over 7,000 plants needed for the parterre each year, saving us between �600 and �800 annually.
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'It also means that we will be able to start selling more of our own home-grown plants to visitors, the money from which will be put towards future projects in the garden.
The new greenhouse will cost around �30,000 to build and in a first for the National Trust in the East of England it will be built entirely by staff and volunteers with no contractors being used.
The project has been made possible thanks to the Bedford and West Norfolk National Trust Centres and Associations which donated �4,500 to top up the National Trust's own funds.
Additional funds were also raised through external sponsorship.
'The last glasshouse on this site was built in 1966 and it replaced an earlier Victorian one,' continued Mr Donachie.
'In recent years the 1960s glasshouse became structurally unsound and for safety reasons we had to demolish it, however, we were able to salvage some of the original panes of glass, along with other materials that we intend to reuse in the rebuild.
'We have been looking at old photographs of the Victorian glasshouse to help us rebuild as near to the original as possible and, if all goes to plan, the new glasshouse will be ready for unveiling in early summer.
