MORE than 50 supporters put the finishing touches to Greys Court in readiness for its re-opening today (Friday).

Click here to watch our behind the scenes video of preparations

The team of volunteers who work at the National Trust property near Rotherfield Greys carried out a final sweep of the Tudor mansion and its grounds on Tuesday.

They picked up litter in the visitors’ car park and walled garden and trimmed grass verges and cut back overgrown trees. A small group dug a flower bed near the main entrance and carried the turf away to be made into compost.

In front of the house, volunteers raked the gravel and cleared eaves and twigs while others took benches and potted flowers out of storage.

Two groups left the estate to pick up litter around Rotherfield Greys, working as far as Greys Green and St Nicholas’ Church.South Oxfordshire District Council provided them with high visibility jackets.

Inside the house, volunteers waxed the wooden floors and polished the bannisters and railings.

Head gardener Jayne Lake said: “Although we’re one big team here, we don’t often get together as we work on different parts of the estate. Just getting together and making new friends has been really nice for everyone.”

Greys Court is now open seven days a week, from 11am to 5pm.

Published 02/03/13