Lions roar again as Emma opens Longleat safari

THIS has been a tumultuous year at Longleat. First, Alexander, the outlandish 7th Marquess of Bath, fatally succumbed to coronavirus, then the fabulous Wiltshire house and its famous safari park was sealed off from the outside world.

But yesterday a new era dawned as Strictly star Emma Weymouth — or, more properly, the Marchioness of Bath, as she became when her husband Ceawlin succeeded his father as 8th Marquess in April — welcomed the first visitors to the 9,000-acre estate since the beginning of the Covid outbreak.

‘ It’s going to be a phased reopening,’ explains Emma, 34, who has been chatelaine of Longleat since marrying Ceawlin in 2013. ‘Annual pass-holders will be the first to come back.’

But, as from Thursday, everyone will be welcome, although Emma (left) emphasises that the reopening will be monitored.

‘We will be capping numbers and there will be social distancing. The loos will be available — cleaned very regularly,’ she says, adding that even after seven years at Longleat, she’s still thrilled by its extraordinary wildlife.

‘I hear the sea lions barking every day. I think it’s wonderful to share with everyone. It’s such an inclusive family place, and the team are so passionate. They work so hard.’

Earlier this year, two of that team flew Down Under to help with the wildlife rescue operation as Australia was ravaged by bush fires, which, it was feared, had wiped out 30 per cent of the koala population.

The reopening of Longleat is a heartening moment during what has been a difficult chapter for the family, which has had to contend with the old marquess’s death and also the separation of Emma’s much older brother, Iain McQuiston, from Ceawlin’s aunt, Silvy.

It was at Iain and Silvy’s wedding in 1989 that Ceawlin, then 15, first glimpsed Emma, a four-yearold bridesmaid.