Because of the high winds forecast with Storm Austen, Stourhead House and Garden will be closed to visitors, all day on Friday 23 October.
The National Trust safety threshold for wind gusts is 46 mph, and gusts in the 52 mph range are forecast throughout the day. The Met Office has also issued a yellow weather warning for wind. With so many mature trees across the garden and estate, the Stourhead team cannot safely welcome visitors in these conditions. The Spread Eagle play area is also closed from Thursday evening.
Saturday 24 October
Saturday is not yet decided. Gusts are currently forecast to exceed the threshold after lunch, when the second seasonal storm, Storm Boelo, lands.
The Stourhead senior leadership team will meet again on Friday to weigh the latest forecasts and agree a considered plan for Saturday, and will confirm that plan after 14:00 on Friday. Even if conditions allow them to open, the outdoor teams will first need to complete post-storm safety checks, so they may not be able to reopen at the usual time. The Stourhead team will keep the position under review given the wider run of weather.