‘Gutting’ flood damage at Belton Park

Staff at Belton House said damage to their parkland caused by flooding has been “gutting” to see

The National Trust property, near Grantham, had to close on Monday 6 and Tuesday 7 January due to adverse weather.

A riverbank at the estate collapsed which caused a large tree to fall into a river.

Angus Hale, senior gardener at the site, said damage to trees “can be quite upsetting” but the team did “everything they could’ve done”.

Mr Hale said all the correct preparations for flooding had been done, but “nature had its way”.

“We repaired our sluice gates last year. We did everything we could have done,” he said.

According to Mr Hale, a tree which fell into a river after a bank gave way showed no signs of falling prior to flooding.

The Belton Estate includes the Grade I listed Belton House, which was built between 1685 and 1687.

The Brownlow family lived at the property for about three centuries until 1984.

The historic house is surrounded by 1,300 acres (530 hectares) of parkland made up of ponds and woodlands which is occupied by deer and sheep.

More than 30 flood warnings, including for the River Witham which runs alongside Belton House, were issued by The Environment Agency.

A major incident was declared by authorities on Monday as nearly 200 properties were flooded across Lincolnshire.

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