VISITORS may not be allowed into a popular National Trust property and its gardens – but the wildlife is having a ball!

Birds and bees are out in abundance, enjoying the peace and quiet in the grounds of Cockermouth’s Wordsworth House. And the garden is blossoming beautifully.

Manager Zoe Gilbert gives all credit to gardener Amanda Thackeray, who has been furloughed since March alongside 14 other staff. Amanda is usually supported by a hard-working team of volunteers but none of them have been able to visit the gardens since lockdown began.

Remaining staff Zoe, communications manager Alexandra Morgan and house steward Rachel Painter have been doing what they can - watering, weeding and deadheading.

“All credit must go to Amanda’s long-term planning and overall garden management,” said Zoe.

“We’ve been doing what we can but basically nature has taken its course. I’ve never seen so many birds and bees in the garden, it’s glorious.

“It’s a bit sad that we can’t share it with people but the wildlife have been enjoying it.”

The poppies, cornflowers and forget-me-nots which were all planted as part of the First World War exhibition in 2018 are doing well.

“The plan was to have them that year but they look so lovely we’ve kept them.

“Some of the poppies have seeded themselves on the pathways, and with no one walking on them they look so lovely.”

The National Trust is set to lose £200m this year following the coronavirus outbreak.

The charity has opened seven of it biggest properties this week. It has opened some of its outdoor spaces and car parks and will be trialling how this goes before opening other properties.

“It’s unlikely we will open before Autumn,” said Zoe.

The special exhibition which was created to mark the 250th anniversary of Wordsworth’s birth will continue into next year, when there are also plans to mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of the poet’s sister, Dorothy.

“We were sad to have to shut in Wordsworth’s 250th anniversary year but the good news is that we can continue the exhibition,” said Zoe.