Flash floods have ripped through a much-loved National Trust beauty spot – leaving months of hard graft in ruins.
Mottistone Gardens on the Isle of Wight was forced to close after a freak storm battered the site just minutes before opening.
The attraction, which surrounds an Elizabethan manor house dating back to the Domesday Book, was left looking like a disaster zone.
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Actor Benedict Cumberbatch had his wedding reception there in 2015 after marrying Sophie Hunter.
The flooding happened on Thursday (28 Aug), as reported by Need To Know.
A National Trust spokesperson said: “At 10:15am, just 15 minutes before opening, the heavens opened above Mottistone.
“Ten minutes of fierce, unforgiving rain and the garden was unrecognisable.
“In those few minutes, paths were gouged out, plants ripped from their beds, and carefully nurtured borders washed away.
“The work of months undone in moments.
“Walking through afterwards was devastating to see such a special, peaceful place scarred so quickly.”
They added the garden’s unique setting left it vulnerable to the worst of Britain’s changing weather.
The spokesperson said: “Our valley setting creates a unique microclimate, but it also leaves us acutely vulnerable to sudden extremes of weather.
“This is what climate change looks like.
“Not a distant threat, but a harsh reality that is already reshaping the places we love.
“Behind the scenes our head gardener and team are working tirelessly to clear, restore, and plan for the future.
“But the truth is stark: if ten minutes of rain can cause this level of destruction, what will the years ahead bring?”
The Trust has now appealed for public support to help repair the devastation.
The spokesperson added: “This is where your support makes a difference.
“Every donation, membership, and car park payment helps us repair the damage, protect Mottistone from future floods, and keep this garden thriving for generations to come.
“Mottistone has always been a garden of resilience and renewal.
“With your help, it can continue to be.”
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