Due to lack of funding the glasshouse was only partly restored in the 1990s. It was in a poor state, no glass remained, and self-seeded trees had rooted through benches. After contractors cleared the trees, they installed straight-cut glass panes to keep the structure stable. In preparation for the glasshouse opening to the public in 2009, it was repainted and repaired and to match the original Foster & Pearson design, the straight-cut panes were replaced with ‘beaver-tail’ glass which is curved along the bottom edge to allow rainwater to run off.
The restoration project was a long and continuous journey but the team were elated in 2010 when the garden had its first harvest in many decades, once again filling the glasshouse with pumpkins, onions and squash.
The magnificent glasshouse was once again made usable and even today continues to be a sanctuary for volunteers and visitors whilst providing fresh fruit and vegetables for everyone to enjoy. Inside, original metal pillars support shelves at different levels and grape vines work their way up from the outside soil. It once again supports a variety of plants from figs, chillies, tomatoes and even carnivorous tropical plants; a fascinating sight for all age groups.