Visitors have flocked to the National Trust estate just north of York since the £2.3 million mansion reopened in 2023.
We are also enjoying the new Mediterranean garden that opened this summer.
By the time the final numbers are tallied, the country mansion and its grounds are expected to receive 155,000 visitors in the first full year after the mansion reopens.
“It's been really busy,” said collections and house manager Alexa Buffy. “We're doing very well in that sense, especially after being shut down for a few years.”
The Mediterranean Garden is part of a larger, long-term project to transform the site in collaboration with award-winning garden designer Andy Sturgeon, and is expected to take the next 10 years to complete.
It was scheduled to open last spring, but persistent rain earlier this year created challenges for the garden, which shows what can be done in dry weather.
That means visitors won't be able to see this spring glow for the first time until several months later.
Tulips will also bloom brightly this fall from the 3,000 bulbs planted on the property, following in the footsteps of snowdrops and daffodils already planted elsewhere on the property.
Head Gardener Sam Shipman is focusing on “good, sunny weather in late spring that allows people to get out and enjoy the gardens and walk around them.''
He also hopes the weather will help him and his colleagues prepare for the next phase of the site: preparing the planting area for the upcoming winter.
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In keeping with the horticultural theme, the first floor of the house is currently hosting Mary Delaney's Botanical World exhibition.
Next fall, the part of the house that is still closed – the top floor – will be opened to the public.
It will house workshops, educational facilities and experiential activities for visitors.
“We want to give people more reasons to come and let them know there's always something new going on,” Alexa said.
It brings to life the various families and people who lived at Benningblau Hall, from the man who signed Charles I's death warrant to the Canadian pilots of World War II who called Benningbrow Hall their home. Contains plans to do so.
In the coming weeks, the facility will be running a volunteer recruitment drive, specifically for the in-house team who will help bring Benningbrough Hall to life for visitors.
“We're looking for people who are really warm and welcoming and can help people have the best day,” Alexa said.
Prospective volunteers can find more information at https://myvolunteering.nationaltrust.org.uk/opportunity-search.
