Historic Surrey estate receives National Lottery funding to improve visitor experience

The charity is the owner and custodian of a 400-acre estate in Surrey, with a Grade 1 listed Manor House at its core.

They aim to conserve the listed buildings in their care and increase biodiversity across the estate.

Their vision, in opening these treasures to the public, is to enrich people’s wellbeing via access to culture, heritage and nature.

The development work that the charity has received £233,000 towards, focuses on the estate and creating a sustainable future for the organisation.

It will deliver a host of different projects to help nature thrive and the community connect with the beauty and wellbeing benefits of the landscape.

The estate, which is made up of pasture, parkland and ancient woodland, is a highly significant greenspace between two residential areas and has the potential to be of regional significance for biodiversity.

Due to its position, adjacent to Sheepleas SSSI (Surrey Wildlife Trust) and Hatchlands Park (National Trust), it forms an important wildlife corridor.

It includes Habitats of Principle Importance and, to date, 72 plant species with conservation status as well as a wide range of rare species have been identified.

There are also archaeological features including medieval fishponds.

As part of this grant West Horsley Place Trust, whose focus is on promoting wellbeing, will pilot innovative schemes to test how the estate could be used to support local people’s mental health.

These will include archaeology on prescription, a new scheme offering people the change to engage with the land and its history, as well as new nature-based volunteer roles.

A project in partnership with local secondary school, The Howard of Effingham, will also support students to develop their self-confidence, resilience and positive mental health.

A new partnership with the Sustainability Innovation Hub at the Institute for Sustainability, University of Surrey will research who currently uses their green spaces, who isn't accessing them and how people could enjoy them more.

Work with a catering consultant will undertake a feasibility study for an onsite cafe to enhance the visitor experience.

The grant will also allow West Horsley Place Trust to devise and pilot a series of improvements across the estate based on the visitor feedback.

These could include signage, access adaptations, seating, interpretation and information for visitors.

Working with the University of Oxford research will be undertaken to understand the history of the estate and its rich heritage which alongside feedback from visitors will inform how the estate is used in the future.

Ilona Harris, director of West Horsley Place Trust said: “This grant will allow West Horsley Place Trust to develop our organisational expertise, nurture new relationships, devise a strategic direction for the estate’s future and offer people in our community a beautiful landscape to connect with and enjoy.

“We would like to thank The National Lottery Heritage Fund and all National Lottery players for this opportunity.”

For further information about the work of West Horsley Place Trust please visit westhorsleyplace.org.