Winkworth Arboretum ‘Buzzing’ Following Restoration of Historic Boathouse

Published on: 3 Aug, 2017
Updated on: 7 Aug, 2017

The iconic boathouse as Winkworth Arboretum – © National Trust Carol Sheppard

The historic and beautiful boathouse at the National Trust’s Winkworth Arboretum in Surrey has just undergone a very unique restoration.

Previously the backdrop for weddings and film and television productions, given its placement on the picturesque Rowe’s Flashe Lake, the arboretum’s iconic boathouse required fundamental structural support reinforcement works due to the effects of water ingress and vegetation growth over the years.

Restored boathouse foundations

National Trust’s website states: “Positioned in one of the most picturesque areas of the Arboretum, the boathouse is appreciated by visitors as a place to observe the resident waterfowl, watch the seasons gradually etch their colours on the landscape, or simply sit and contemplate in a place of peace.”

But what made this project even more unusual than its stunning backdrop was the necessary relocation of several thousand insect residents. Over the years the walls of this historic structure had become thick with tens of thousands of bees and their hives.

Experienced contractors completing the restoration, Greenford Ltd, had to admit that even they had never seen this particular sort of restorative works in all their years of performing civil engineering projects across the country.

The bee hives within the boathouse walls that required relocation as part of the project.

Greenford Director Simon Rogers said “This project was unique and challenging in many ways. Working for the National Trust is always an incredible honour and responsibility, especially given the history of this boathouse, however the added challenge of the bees made this project especially interesting. They were very carefully removed and relocated and the boathouse is as good as new – if not slightly quieter.”

This delicate restoration of Winkworth Arboretum’s boathouse was years in the making, the careful and considered plan of the National Trust to ensure these essential works were completed as timely and financially efficiently as possible all while minimising the impact to the arboretum’s visitors.

The boathouse is a huge draw to the 140,000 people that visit this site every year, and the trust worked very hard to ensure the closure period was as short as possible – the contractors completing the works in just five short weeks.

The National Trust put years of planning and thought into the update of this iconic part of the arboretum, a time-capsule was even concealed within the structure as a snapshot of 2017 for future generations.

Sophie Clarke from the National Trust said “It’s a very exciting time for Winkworth, and we’re really happy to have been able to secure the future of Rowe’s Flashe Boathouse for our visitors to enjoy.”

Built 100 years ago, Winkworth’s iconic boathouse has long provided a place of beauty and tranquility for visitors. The arboretum itself was gifted to the National Trust in 1952 by Dr Wilfred Fox and spans over 120 acres of incredible Surrey landscape for the public to enjoy.