The house team use preventive conservation techniques to control and monitor these environmental factors as much as possible. The aim is to slow down deterioration of our collection, allowing them to be enjoyed by future generations of visitors.
Here at Mottisfont I'm in charge of Integrated Pest Management (IPM). This involves the monitoring and control of insect pest population in the showrooms and collections storage areas. It's important because insufficient monitoring and control can allow pest infestation to develop unnoticed, leading to insect damage to organic materials such as paper, textiles and wood.
Fortunately, only a tiny proportion of insects in the UK attack/eat historic material. However, a small percentage of these species have the potential to become serious pests and can cause irreversible damage to collections in a short period of time.
Have you ever wondered what the little black boxes in corners of rooms or fireplaces are?