The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Owner cuts palace grass as grounds to reopen
Lady Mansfield and a band of volunteers restoring site to its pre-lockdown glory
The owner of Scone Palace is making sure the grounds are ready for visitors returning at the start of next month.
Lady Mansfield has got stuck in to gardening duties at the 19th Century attraction, after most of the staff were put on furlough.
She has regularly been seen mowing across the landmark’s 100 acres of gardens and grounds in preparation for the grand reopening, now confirmed for July 1.
While visitors will be encouraged to visit the grounds and eat at the palace’s outdoor picnic area, the palace itself will still be out of bounds.
Lady Mansfield said that now a date has been set, a band of helpers has returned to get the venue ready.
“The gardens have grown a little bit wilder over the last 13 weeks of lockdown,” she said.
“So this week we’ve gladly welcomed back our small army of gardening volunteers who now have an extra couple of weeks to spruce things up a little.
“We hope that local residents will support us as we gradually reopen and make full use of the grounds and the picnic area.”
She said: “As a family-run business we have been incredibly grateful for the support we’ve had from people online during the crisis, and we hope that this will translate into visiting our lovely gardens over the coming weeks and, eventually when we are allowed to reopen, the palace itself.”
Lady Mansfield said she welcomed the first minister’s announcement.
“Like a great many businesses with outdoor facilities, we had been hopeful that reopening would have been possible this weekend,” she said.
“However, this is much-needed news for the tourism sector in Scotland, so many of whom are continuing to struggle as a result of restrictions.”
Hand sanitiser stations are being installed throughout the estate, and guests will be handed a map to help them find their way around.
The maze will remain closed off until restrictions ease further.
The Mansfield’s family home is steeped in history and was once home to the Stone of Destiny.
In recent years the grounds of Scone Palace have become known as a venue for various events including the Rewind festival.