Scotney Castle

Scotney Castle

Scotney Castle is set within a Registered Park and Garden in the High Weald. Our proposals reconnect the Grade I registered Mansion with its grounds, draw out Scotney’s significance and tell the story of the picturesque.  

HTA were selected by the National Trust in 2020 to lead a multi-disciplinary team to reimagine the visitor experience at Scotney Castle, reconnecting the Listed Grade I Listed Mansion and ruined castle with the surrounding parkland, walled gardens and orchards. Scotney’s 770-acre estate is designated as a Grade I Registered Park and Garden and part of the High Weald Area National Landscape Area. Large areas of the site are within a Site of Specific Scientific Interest and bordered by areas of Ancient Woodland.  

Working closely with the National Trust, we have reorganised the visitor arrival sequence, restoring the historic landscape and expanding its appeal through new orchards, soft fruit areas, F & B and a new destination bespoke play space. Parking with a new visitor reception building and pay barrier have been located away from the house, so that the setting of the Mansion is restored and its relationship to the Registered Park and Garden reinstated.  

One Place, Many Stories

Landscape Design

Landscape Design

Visitors now approach the house through the parkland rather than along the service drive. Panoramic views over the High Weald reveal Scotney’s picturesque character and heritage as part of their journey. Designed historic views have been reinstated by selective thinning and vegetation clearance allowing visitors to appreciate the ruined castle as they approach the Mansion as originally intended by Gilpin and the Husseys.  

Scotney operates at the intersection of heritage conservation, public access, education and visitor experience. Our approach deliberately disperses people into the parkland, encouraging them to explore the Grade I Listed Park and Garden before they reach the café, castle and shops. This extends the visitor experience and increases the resilience of the landscape. 

As part of the project, we pioneered Biodiversity Net Gain with the National Trust’s inhouse team of ecologists, introducing species rich grasslands with seed collected by the rangers from the High Weald area, reintroduction of conservation grazing with a sixteen strong herd of longhorn and Sussex cattle, and protection of Ancient Woodland to allow areas of natural regeneration.   

As part of Reconnecting Scotney, the historic orchard and soft fruit gardens are being reinstated, reversing damage caused by the former car park. The orchard will be replanted using heritage species based on Hussey’s original layout and set within colourful meadows, augmented with bulbs.  We researched Hussey’s original planting design which combines mixed fruit and nut trees to develop a highly ornamental, wildlife rich visitor attraction for The National Trust throughout the seasons. 

The first phase of the project is starting on site this spring.