John Edwards, Chair of the Wentworth Castle and Stainborough Park Heritage Trust said: “We would like to thank the thousands who visited the gardens during our final weekend, which was a great success. Over 4,000 visitors flocked to the gardens for our Easter event, many of those were first-time visitors to the site and everyone enjoyed the splendid gardens.
“We’re incredibly proud of everything that has been achieved in the last decade, especially the restoration projects that were made possible thanks to the hard work and dedication of so many people. We’re really grateful to the staff, volunteers and members of the public who have supported the Trust over the years and it is our hope that a long-term solution for the gardens will now be found, and they will continue to be enjoyed by people for many generations to come.
“At present, a number of options are being explored with a view to securing a sustainable future for the gardens. It’s too early to go into great detail about these, but the Trust, Barnsley Council and Northern College are working closely together to find a positive outcome for this beautiful and historic Grade I listed landscape.
“The site is complex and significant in size, so it’s difficult to give an indication of timescales, but we have made arrangements for the gardens to be maintained until October and there are a number of weddings taking place over the summer. Further updates will be provided as and when available. In the meantime, here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about the site’s closure.”