A Kent-founded, world-leading horticultural lighting company has stepped in to keep a recently discovered collection of rare and historic camellias in tip-top condition as their derelict home of 200 years goes through a major restoration.
Lumatek, a designer and manufacturer of professional horticultural lighting, has gifted £5,000 of professional-grade ultra-violet lighting systems to ensure the 19-strong camellia collection at Rotherham’s Grade I listed country house, Wentworth Woodhouse, can thrive during building work which has robbed them of much of their natural light.
The collection includes some of the earliest camellias in the Western world, dating back to the 1820s-30s. They were owned by the 2nd Marquess of Rockingham and he had a Camellia House built in 1812 specifically to show them off.
But along with the rest of Wentworth Woodhouse, the building fell into decline from the late 1900s and the camellias were forgotten.
When the Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust took over the mansion and its 82-acre grounds in 2017, the Grade II* Listed Camellia House was roofless and on the Heritage At Risk Register – but for decades open to the Yorkshire elements, the camellias had flourished.
The Trust’s Head Gardener Scott Jamieson found out their rarity by calling in the International Camellia Society and Chiswick House in London, which has its own internationally-renowned collection of camellias from the early 1800s.
This August, work began to transform the Camellia House into a speciality tea house and events space, which will create up to 22 new local hospitality jobs when it opens in summer 2023. The camellias, which will have pride of place, needed specialist care and protection during the Five Million pounds transformation.
Before structural work began in September, the camellia beds were encased in timber frames and covered with thick plastic sheeting to prevent lime plaster dust and debris from contaminating soil. A crash deck was built at roof level to prevent debris falling onto the plants and ten foil-lined light tunnels were created to allow in natural light. But as building work progressed and winter nights set in, the camellias needed greater support.
Horticultural lighting specialist Lumatek found out about the project and offered to help. It has donated a number of its Ats300W LED products, which are designed to produce the right supplemental light in places where natural sunlight is completely absent. The intensity and quality of the light produced will promote photosynthesis and help the camellias to maintain their health during the restoration work.
Launched in 2004 in Ashford, the company’s products are sold to horticultural, hydroponics, aquatic, medical cannabis and industrial specialists through Europe and beyond.
CO-CEO Natalya Gray said: “We were delighted to play part in the protection of the rare and historically important camellias during Wentworth Woodhouse’s Camellia house project. It is a perfect fit for Lumatek – our company ethos is helping growers grow and we believe all businesses must share and care when they are called to. “
Specialist conservation architects Donald Insall Associates and York-based construction company William Birch & Sons Ltd are carrying out the Camellia House transformation, which is expected to open in summer 2023.
It is a complex task. The building, part of which is a 1730s structure known as Lady Rockingham’s Tearoom, has no water or electricity supply, leans forward 20cms and has settled by around 20cms at one end. Extensive damage has been caused by rain and invasive weeds.
Sarah McLeod, CEO of the Preservation Trust commented: “The transformation of the Camellia House is well underway and throughout the process, great attention is being paid to protecting our precious camellias. We are extremely grateful to LUMATEK for generously donating the specialist lighting needed to keep the camellias healthy over winter. It is wonderful; when businesses step in to help us. We are a charitable trust with limited funds and are always very keen to hear from other companies who could give their support and professional guidance.”