The National Trust has cancelled its forthcoming Fête Champêtre event at Stourhead due to the potential damage to the historic garden, given the current ground conditions.
It is the first time in the 29 year history of the Fête that the charity has had to cancel it. The event was due to be held over two nights, Friday 25 and Saturday 26 July.
'Today, contractors responsible for lighting and staging should have been moving onto the site to begin installation, but the ground is too sodden and the damage that would result would have a devastating effect on Stourhead’s historic garden. The damage to the grade 1 listed landscape could be so severe that it could take years to overcome.'
Alan Power, Head Gardener at Stourhead
Letters and emails have been sent directly to those who have bought tickets which will be fully refunded. The National Trust box-office is also contacting those who’ve bought tickets online.
© National Trust
In addition, the National Trust and team at Stourhead are still inviting ticket-holders to bring a picnic and enjoy a private evening in the garden with fireworks on Saturday 26 July.
'We will only be opening the garden to those who have already purchased tickets, and wrist bands for Friday and Saturday will be accepted. It’s by way of an apology, but also to show people the real magic of the garden which we’re trying to preserve by making this cancellation' said Alan Power.
The National Trust is keen to stress that it is not the volume of visitors to the garden which presents the risk, purely the work to install the necessary 200 tonnes of platforms, staging and lighting.
The charity has taken the decision to cancel despite incurring cancellations fees which could be as much as £50,000 because of the potential long-term damage to the garden. Ticket sales were already at break-even point and the event was expected to make a significant profit for conservation. However, repair costs would have been between £20,000 and £30,000.
'Even though the sun is shining as we’re explaining this, the amount of rainfall we’ve had means the soil is at saturation point. The lake is also at its highest summer levels recorded in my time at the garden, and risks triggering automatic anti-flood mechanisms which would see the lake draining' warns Alan Power.
'This is not a decision we’ve taken lightly, and we hope it’s appreciated that we’ve made it now, rather than next week to give visitors time to amend arrangements and contact friends who may also have been coming.'
If you are a ticket holder and haven't heard from us please phone 01747 841 570 or email stourhead@nationaltrust.org.uk.
|
