Harewood House deputy CEO explains why £2.5m revamp should keep visitors coming back

And – sobering thought - the trust which runs the historic home of the Earl and Countess of Harewood, is soley reliant on the income generated through visitors and fundraising. It’s with this in mind that Harewood House Trust has embarked on a “reimagining” of its historic landscape and gardens, building a new playground and creating a new visitor welcome space.

The trust’s deputy chief executive Kath Knight, says it’s about Harewood becoming “more financially sustainable into the future”: “Last year we had 290,000 visitors. This year we are projecting 260,000. We do think there’s been an impact from the cost of living crisis.

"We are seeing a change in visitor patterns in terms of spending on the site. People are obviously thinking more carefully about what and where they spend they spend their money. We want to improve the visitor welcome – at the moment you have to stop at a ticket hut and buy your ticket from a window.

"It’s a very old-fashioned way of doing things.” First in line for a revamp is the adventure play area – aimed at six to 12 year olds, which is now nearly three decades old. There’ll also be areas for younger children and neuro diverse youngsters. The project costing a total of £500,000 should reopen by next July. The rest of the project – costing £2m – is for a new garden on the site of the bird garden which closed in February, and turning the Bakehouse – currently hidden away by the car park - into a new visitor centre.

Kath says the birds have now all been rehomed and discussions are starting with award-winning garden designer Matthew Wilson on what will replace it: “We want to reconnect some of the historic routes around the grounds which were broken up by the bird garden. There’s a historic walk from Harewood to the lake; on the way you can see views of Gawthorpe Hall. There will be lots of colour, also seasonal interest – we are open all year round.

"In the summer there will be swathes of perennial planting, for Autumn interest, acers, also unusual topiary structures with playful elements." The project is being led by Yorkshire-based Bauman Lyons Architects which has worked on Hull Minster and the Museum of Making at Derby Silk Mill in recent times. "Harewood has a history of working with building, architecture, garden design and landscape designers like Capability Brown. It is all part of the history of evolution of Harewood,” she added.