New sensory garden at mansion used for Ghosts sitcom

The manor house used in BBC sitcom Ghosts has opened a free sensory garden for visitors.

West Horley Place, near Guildford, transformed a "long-neglected" garden on its estate into an accessible, multi-sensory experience.

This project is part of the Grade I listed medieval building's two-year National Lottery Heritage Fund programme, Heritage Without Barriers.

The West Horsley Place Trust aims to open up the stately home to "people from all walks of life" in the community as part of the scheme.

The estate consulted a group of blind and partially-sighted people and their carers, as well as the programme's access panel, to design the garden.

Participants gave a list of garden features, including plants you can walk through, banks of smells, and big blocks of colour.

Estate manager Matt Link and arts, heritage and community co-ordinator Jo Ellison worked with a team of gardening volunteers to bring the sensory space to life.

The garden was officially opened on 25 September by the Mayor of Guildford, Councillor Sallie Barker MBE.

The patch of land, Hornbeam Paddock, was once was a formal garden but had become overgrown, according to the estate.

Mr Link said: "We are so pleased that this area of the garden that’s been neglected since the post-war period is having life breathed back into it so we can have an active area that people can enjoy with beautiful smells, sounds and tactile surfaces."

The manor house is best known for being the backdrop for Button House in the 2019 - 2023 BBC series Ghosts.

In January, the historic building's trust appealed for donations for £7m of repairs needed.

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