TREASURY Minister Dawn Primarolo visited the Garden House at Buckland Monachorum at the weekend. She came to see for herself the effects of the foot and mouth crisis on a typical tourism business and to promote the Government's message that parts of the countryside remain open for business.
The ten-acre gardens, centred on a walled garden surrounding the romantic ruins of a medieval vicarage, have an international reputation as one of the best gardens in Britain.
Ms Primarolo is herself a keen gardener and enjoyed a quick tour of the gardens with garden manager Keith Wiley.
The Garden House has remained open throughout the crisis with MAFF approval, and has disinfectant measured in place.
But the business, which employs 20 people and is run by a registered charity, the Fortescue Garden Trust, has seen a dramatic fall in visitor numbers during March and estimates losses so far as approaching £8,000.
Ms Primarolo listened to the concerns of the Garden House and gave advice on what help the business could expect in the present situation.
Garden House commercial manager Stuart Fraser said: 'Ms Primarolo was concerned and interested and gave some very down-to-earth advice.
'We were pleased that high-level Government ministers are taking such a close interest in the effects of this terrible disease on businesses.'