Great Fosters

Surrey

The restoration and extension of the historic gardens of Great Fosters, the first country house hotel in England. The project has been achieved through a unique partnership between the private owner, English Heritage, The Environment Agency, The Highways Agency, Runnymede Borough Council, Surrey County Council and The Surrey Gardens Trust.

The project has included:

• Restoration of the historic approaches and listed formal gardens around the house; extending the formal gardens with new and complementary designs.
• Reacquisition of the original grounds and creation of a new lake; regenerating existing oak woodland and stream corridors.
• Protection of the land from the intrusion of the M25 motorway with 6 metre high earthworks and a formal turf amphitheatre.