Losing My 300 Year Old Family Mansion | Country House Rescue REVISIT | Abode

foreign this is River Hill House in Kent last year Ruth Watson advised the family on a viable future for their historic home it's over 18 months since I first came to River Hill and met the three generations of the Rogers family there was a degree of tension between the generations and how they could go forward developing this house and particularly the garden you said to me that you were proud of the fact that you kept your mouth closed I would never say don't do it it's up to him now I'm back to see how they got on and how Ed and Sarah who were in charge of this project have fared I thought I worked hard in the past but um I didn't know the meaning of hard work [Music] River Hill House near Seven Oaks in Kent is a grade 2 listed manner set in 130 Acres of grounds the listed Gardens are of great historic importance bearing rare trees and plants the Rogers family have occupied this estate for over 160 years and the latest generation is Ed and his wife Sarah I live here with what I call my three Mrs Rogers which is my grandmother my mother and Sarah they're my sort of force on the ground four generations of the family live at River Hill Ed and Sarah live with their children in a cottage on the grounds Ed's mum Jane lives in the main house and Ed's grandmother Evelyn resides in the lodge she's lived at Riverhill since the end of World War II and at 86 Remains The Matriarch of the family [Music] but you see we can't manage without each other and I think my mother-in-law has given her life to this place and where I suppose in the sort of way I have really Ed's father died prematurely so Ed inherited River Hill aged just 21. he struggles to run the estate as well as working full time in the city it came as quite a shock really to suddenly find that you were in the driving seat just finished University and then suddenly you're worrying about block trains leaking roofs it's a lovely place to live but it's it's not easy it's the first Rogers to earn money for nearly 200 years and it's terribly important but he works desperately hard he can't be everywhere at the same moment the spring gardens are open to the public but only on Sundays and bank holidays for just three months of the year this brings in 5 000 pounds but it costs fifty thousand pounds to keep the estate going it's a constant worry for Ed and selling up isn't an option I'd like to certainly give it my best shot before before one goes down that route that sounds so lame can you just give a bit of passion of why you like it why do you love it why do you really want to be here you're not going to just give it your best shot because that means it might fail you've got to be a bit of a determination as the youngest Mrs Rogers Sarah is ambitious and recognizes that Riverhill needs an overhaul if it's to survive not everyone in the family however is quite so enthusiastic I think it might lose something of its flavor of a family home if it got too big it'd be nice to get much bigger but not that big [Music] in an attempt to turn the fortunes of the family home around business Guru Ruth Watson's been called in to help today she's in Kent to meet the Rogers and secure River Hill House and Gardens for the future we're frightened of embarking on some schemes Ruth may be able to give us the confidence to do that I think that's an interesting thing this one piece will make 52 layers watch on mobile devices or the big screen all for free no subscription required [Music] once inside Ruth is Keen to find out more about the Rogers family this is marvelous and who lives here my mother lives here your mother lives here right and then where do you live just down the track through just the other side of the farm and you have a grandma I believe yes my grandmother lives in the lodge so can I see some more of the house yes absolutely come through to the drawing room foreign took over the house in 1995 little has changed at River Hill [Music] a picture over there of what the house looked like when my family bought it for a house in such a prime Hillside location the Outlook today is very different can I say that's the first thing that hits me is there is no View and yet there should be a few I mean what is this awful stuff outside the window well the uh was allowed to grow up too I mean block the road I think it's very oppressive looking I mean one doesn't look at the Garden think how beautiful at the moment in its Heyday River Hill House would have been a bustling family home with 12 living servants a Dairy Maid and eight full-time gardeners today Ed's mother Jane lives in it alone and it's a very different story how much does it matter to you that the house stays in the Rogers family River Hill is very important to me I don't want to be the generation that sort of gives up on it do you come from a similar family not at all no definitely not and when I first met her it seemed quite strange the idea that you would stay in the same house I've come to realize how lovely it is to have that thought that our children are part of this long line of of Rogers the hairstyle is even traditional now is it an unchanged genetic it's not genetic it looks very twenties I have to say about 2030s kind of Timeless is [Laughter] Family Values are undoubtedly important to the Rogers but Ruth wants to find out more having met one Mrs Rogers she's Keen to meet the other two this is my mother Jane hello [Music] what sort of income is derived from the Gardens at the moment the garden barely at the moment makes enough to cover the cost of actually doing it we usually put sort of one foot forward and about 20 back do you have any income change that you either contributor or are you a tenant here do you pay rent how does it work I'm just a sort of housekeeper no I'm afraid I just don't have the money to put into it right but I do try and look after it as I suppose really it's been a challenge ever since you know I've lived here and with Johnny dying and for Ed to carry on further Misfortune hit the Rogers family when Ed's uncle passed away five years ago a bachelor who loved the Gardens at Riverhill he left a fund of fifty thousand pounds for the upkeep of the grounds this inheritance could secure the future of the estate the question is how I've got lots of ideas but I'm not very brave Ruth give me a couple of ideas that you've had we've got some wonderful woodlands and I thought of perhaps having some sort of Adventure Trails for children but not done but with space for just 30 cars on site Evelyn thinks that the family should concentrate on practicalities first but if one of our troubles is our parking is not brilliant here we're frightened that if we have more than 30 cars we can't park them so we think oh well don't bother doing it [Music] 1940 period of time all they've had to do was sit around have a lovely time collect plants and have their portraits painted the problem now is it's the 21st century whatever happens here is going to be something of a culture shock if Riverhill house and its Splendid Gardens are to survive radical changes need to be made but will Ruth be able to Spur the Rogers into action it took Ed over 10 years to propose to me so it wouldn't there's no rushing the Rogers River Hill House is the ancestral home of the Rogers family who have lived here for nearly two centuries the heavy responsibility of the crumbling pile and its historic Gardens has fallen on Ed Rogers and his wife Sarah my family created everything around me here so if I give it all up and hand it on to somebody else I feel I've given away 160 years of History suddenly in one in one boss overlooking the wield of Kent River Hill House was purchased in 1840 by Keane botanist John Rogers who was a contemporary of Charles Darwin he traveled as far afield as the Himalayas and brought back exotic plants many of which today make up the splendid Gardens at River Hill though sadly the house and its historic grounds are now falling into disrepair the spring gardens only open for around 20 days a year between March and June attracting fewer than 1 000 visitors and little income Ruth Watson's been called in to help turn the estate's fortunes around a wooden Garden which was created by my great grandfather between the two Wars that's where most of the vistas goes yeah absolutely yeah where the color is yeah Sarah used to be a primary school teacher and thinks the key to River Hills success could be creating a more child-friendly environment [Music] your feet Ruth yes don't worry this bit's not open to the public so this is what you refer to as the Rockery that's right um it was created by my great-grandmother in its Heyday this was absolutely magnificent it had little paths and the water gutting down and sort of the fairies Grotto yes it is sort of little children's parties and having maybe clemies have a third birthday party I mean how much would you like the garden to be really approachable by children oh very much so yes I mean that's the thing I'm not a really a horticulturist but I see everything in the eyes of children I think perhaps we want to retain the sort of wildness yeah and lose you know lose the areas which are sort of derelict what a job for you Ruth let's pick let's pick a wild one come on Journey little has altered at River Hill since the gardens were established and Sarah can see that the estate survival depends on change Ed's grandmother Evelyn is less keen and wants to see the garden's tranquility and historical links maintained I've put out here a letter from Charles Darwin to the John Rogers of the day but they were both fellas of the Royal Society so John Rogers who bought River Hill was incredibly brainy and I always say to people if Darwin was writing to him as you can see in the letter asking him a question referring to him he must have been pretty brand new for Darwin to would you want to ask him something what really bothers me about all of this is does anyone other than you in the family know all this not really because I mean this is actually really quite worrying because if you're the only person who has the knowledge of all these things I'm day conscious of The wingy Chariot is getting nearer all the time you know and I would love to have more time to write but one gets so bogged down with just day-to-day living which is unfortunate really at 86 Evelyn remains head of the family and Ruth wants to ensure that this won't prove an obstacle to any potential plans at Riverhill how much do you think you're still the matriarchal figure here and that that everyone is going to do what you want them so I don't say what I want anymore so you're very happy Fred to have free reign as it were well he must whether I'm happy or not is another thing but he must when you hand it over it's rather like when you first send your child away to school is it going to be looked after with loving care is it going to be understood because I do think these houses have got a soul in a way [Music] when the gardens are open to the public Ed's mum Jane is in charge of catering so that's your responsibility opening that door every day it is because there's no one else who can open it and do you have to man this tea room all the time we don't make enough money you need to pay someone to come here really yeah like Evelyn and Sarah Jane also married into the Rogers family and Ruth's Keen to find out more about how she fits in being in the middle of the generations with your mother-in-law still having a voice and I mean does that make you feel that you can't do things um she does actually say What She Likes or doesn't like yes you know but I'd feel that Ed and Sarah are sort of young enough they're together they've got more go I think and you think the house will be all right with Ed as the owner I hope so I really hope so being the newest Mrs Rogers is something of a challenge for Sarah coaches I mean of the ones have left of course slightly daunted I think the main thing is not to try and copy but to try and do one's own thing um you know it took out over 10 years to propose to me so there's no rushing the Rogers yeah well then well I just stamp my foot a bit okay would you prefer post I said you know now or never said likes to be quite sure I'd rushed headlong into a scheme and get my fingers burnt but somehow I think perhaps a bit of a mixture of the two would be I think you're probably right I'm hoping we'll be good yeah yeah so um with three Mrs Rogers living on site Ruth's got her work cut out if she's going to convince them all that change is inevitable [Music] Arden of England Kent is rich in profitable tourist attractions with this in mind Ruth makes a visit to Leeds castle where a popular feature is the world famous maze constructed from 2400 yew trees I'm trying to find Adrian Fisher who's the world's leading maze designer and he's done too good a job here because I can't find the center and I've been walking for ages Adrian [Applause] oh you'll have to go back the other way the other way right [Music] so Adrian if you say Amaze is actually a puzzle can we create a puzzle without it being such a formal mess in a woodland yes the whole landscape could be one enormous puzzle The Experience can be actually quite different visit by visit the maze is clearly a memorable experience for the thousands of tourists who visit Leeds Castle an attraction such as this could prove a money spinner for River Hill there are three generations of Rogers in fact four at River Hill if you include the Tiny Tots I think it'd be marvelous if you could come and meet them yeah I'd love to having done her research Ruth's come up with a plan of action for the Rogers she believes that by investing the 50 000 pounds left by Ed's Uncle River Hill and its historic grounds could generate enough Revenue to support the entire estate but to achieve this the Rogers need to raise their game Ruth's back at Riverhill to deliver her findings good morning Mrs Rogers Mrs Rogers Mrs Rogers and Ed good morning good morning I think you need to be thinking much bigger than you are at the moment at the end of the day visitor numbers have to be increased you have to have the car park you have to have attractions linking from the Darwin the history of the garden through the garden itself and the plants what Ruth wants to see at River Hill is a major children's attraction that will your visitors and revenue through the gates she wants the Rogers to research the concept my trump card is a chat called Adrian Fisher he is the world's leading designer of Macy's he works absolutely with the onus of the site to create things that are specifically good for hair it's all about puzzles and Gardens which attract both adults and children a feature such as a maze at River Hill might create more income but the idea is not sitting well with Mrs Rogers I think it would take away the family atmosphere of the garden you said to me that you were proud of the fact that you kept your mouth closed so I think this is a moment where you really have got to search your soul and say will I willingly let Ed take on full responsibility I would never say don't do it it's up to him but I just wouldn't like it okay Ruth also wants to ensure that riverhill's remarkable history is documented for future Generations one of the most important things Mrs Rogers senior is the fount of all knowledge here and you know this whether it's the plants whether it's the history of the family all these things are incredibly precious both to you as a family but also to our heritage and I think you should set aside perhaps an hour every weekend and just record you speaking about everything you know yes I know if I went under a bus there's so much in my head except that will just go forever with Mrs Rogers senior in charge of preserving the family history it's all eyes on the future it's now time for ED now there's one last thing I would like you to do before I come back and I think it would be symbolic of change and that is to cut down the you hedge and I think that should be your private little Act of commitment to going forward good Ruth's findings have given the family plenty to think about obviously it's hurtful to be told it's all in such a sort of state of shambles which it is I mean I know it I know it is you see Sarah being New Blood On the Block sort of thing has some you know perhaps some out-of-the-box ideas equally at the other end of the spectrum we've got my grandmother who's been here 60 years and you know I think her goal would be that you know this remains a family home but I mean it with no disrespect to my grandmother-in-law who is a wealth of knowledge but she can also um be a little stubborn on certain points I had no idea what it will do but myself I'd have reservations on putting too much into it but I know we've got to put something into it you know but I just think it's a little bit frightening [Music] six weeks after Ruth's visit and the Rogers are already getting down to business they've got a team of tree surgeons in to tackle the overgrown you Hedge [Music] and they've wasted no time at all in calling in May's expert Adrian Fisher for advice well this is our um view we've got here from top of the hill one of the highest points in Kent other than the dance it's such a fantastic view it'd be crazy not to include it in there I think we've got to get people up here people love coming to the top Hills don't they and keeping to her side of the bargain Ed's grandmother is recording the family's history for posterity with a bit of help from granddaughter-in-law Sarah and I thought perhaps we could talk about the trees yes and then perhaps go up into the wood garden I think so because I think with these three trees hold on a minute let me just start off the camera a minute okay Right Far Away talk about the Three Trees yeah because they are so wonderful and it was so incredibly lucky with the storm that they've survived right but what is interesting from the family point of view is the turkey Oak which is a big spreading right let me just get a shot of that hold on yeah the turkey out yeah because that came back as an acorn in the pocket of Ed's great-grandfather off he'd been fighting in the Crimea ah Ed and Sarah have grand designs for River Hills new business and Ed's hard at work clearing the site but Evelyn is anxious that with the ambitious new plans the River Hills she knows and loves isn't spoiled while a lot of the public say is what they love is that it is a family home and it it isn't too commercial and I don't want the atmosphere of the place to go by being absolutely overrun with people so I think you've just got to be jolly careful to keep the balance of that but it's not only Evelyn who's overwhelmed by the speed of change a bit daunted myself I have to say well I was feeling quite optimistic but I think a little worried about it all now Simon Sarah Rogers here as a former teacher Sarah is convinced that the future of River Hill is all about attracting children and their families to the estate lines you sent through we wondered whether it could be slightly more Himalayan looking so um I just wanted to really chat things through with you the gardens are famous for the rare specimens brought back from the Himalayas in the 1800s Sarah is Keen to embrace this in the new developments [Music] underway but it appears some members of the family still have their reservations exerting and you know I've got to stand back but I fear for them that's all the historic Gardens at Riverhill house in Kent are in the process of a major regeneration with the help of Ruth Watson in a bid to save the ancestral home ed and Sarah Rogers are transforming their estate into a woodland experience for children thank you foreign it's the end of the summer and Ruth's back to see how plans are progressing on her first visit five months ago the panoramic view from Riverhill house was obscured by overgrown new trees Ruth's Keen to find out if the Rogers have followed her advice and chopped them down [Music] lovely to see you and to see you too it's beautiful I know there are you head well absolutely it's made quite a difference the lovely view of the orange fields we couldn't see any of the fields at all I mean it's just and the beautiful tree the oak tree and everything I mean it just looks so much better well done so Sarah you've been doing things so can we sit down and have a chat but the biggest change of all at River Hill for Generations will be the ambitious children's Adventure Park history of the Rogers family but also making a really exciting place for families to explore together yes so these are just suggestions really of um ideas which we might take to uh to Rebrand us yes and I think calling Himalayan Gardens because there is nowhere like that I mean you are creating a unique brand um perhaps if I can show you the the map the car part you've seen people come from the car park to the area in front of the Tea Room yeah that is the sort of retail trading area I wondered whether we could call That Base Camp yes brilliant idea um yeah and then they go up this Hillside Park possibly with a sharper pack with your for your children yes um up to this area here which is where we'd like a play area so that's a Himalayan Hideout we have asked Adrian Fisher to um create one of his wonderful mazes for us I don't think I've ever been as impressed by anybody's thought and Imagination on a project as this I really am I think it's wonderful it does mean a lot to me and well I know it will to end it's brilliant I think it's just marvelous you thought a lot about it so yeah well done we hope um we hope it takes off We've Got Confidence now yes you've given us confidence so since Ruth was last at River Hill Ed's grandmother Evelyn has been ill Ruth wants to make sure that with so many changes of food she's aware of the Bold scheme um mightily impressed with the plans for the garden have you had an opportunity to look and hear about what they're proposing to do not very much just a little bit but I'm thrilled to hear about opening up the Woodland and that sort of thing does this imply you've been taking a back seat well I haven't been in hospital and being at home this first time I've come out for five weeks you see so um obviously I've taken a back seat but anyway it's their do you know yeah the notion of calling the Tea Room base camp because again of equity does that fill you with horror well I mean it's only Himalayan in the springtime I mean I'm all for it being open in the springtime and it's going to be open in the middle of the summer people wonder what you're talking about it is essentially an English Country House your knowledge of the house and the history of it we talked about Sarah coming and recording yes of course she started with the gardeners oh end up in the Woodland a bit too and did you enjoy doing it oh yes I love talking I talk Ed to have the sound of my own voice yours no no we all do yeah and I think that's one thing that I really am grateful to you for you gave the spur that was necessary to get on with that because the maze absolutely boggles me I mean I cannot see the point of the maze I mean it is a proven model you know it's it's not something where you're just taking a straw and saying well this one to this place but I think we do get back Mrs Rogers if I may be so boldest to say is that I think you do have to let them get on with it it's their thing and you know I've got to stand back but I fear for them that's all I just don't want them to get themselves into a real tangle this is just that first bit there Sarah is Keen to show Ruth the progress they've already made in preparation for the brand new River Hill Experience just take off the top level there but this route was totally impossible um well yes Ed his brother and you know some friends kindly come along to help the first friends of River Hill I think aerial walkways climbing frames and tree houses are all part of the master plan Ed's finalizing the proposals with specialist playground designer Lyndon Davis oh hi this is Lyndon hello how'd you do hi we were just discussing the plans here for um the Himalayan High diamonds and these two big trees they're here that's what no yes Linden's been working on them they are Ed what are they sweet Chestnut I mean this is again confirmation that John Rogers did some fantastically beautiful things because they are such fine and glorious trees and here they are I mean when did anyone last get to see these Sarah I shouldn't think anyone's has stood on this spot where we're standing now for 50 80. yeah 58 years enjoying it anywhere certainly these are lovely cedar trees here as well which um were planted some of the original plantings in 1840s so it's good that people can enjoy them from this side as well as from the south yeah this looks really good fun very good fun really enjoy doing it we really enjoy unusual ones yes yeah no it's not the first plan is it but Sarah and Ed are saving the best to last the scene from their very own Mount Everest summit this is our proposed Viewpoint uh here I'm looking is it worth the climb just I mean yeah but you know it is worth the comment this I would say is arguably the best view in Kent and the Maze is going to be here just over there so you can absolutely where that flat area is Ruth's clearly impressed with what the Rogers have achieved but she wants to see Ed and Sarah put their plans to the test I think Riverhill is going to become a very special place for people to want to come and visit and I'm charging you with on my next visit to see some kids actually trying some of this out and I think to see their little faces and to have their Sherpa packs and use them for feedback and research yeah organize a day yeah yeah I think it would be fun Ed and Sarah have got just three weeks to rise to Ruth's Challenge and get River Hill ready for its first guests foreign [Music] it's the day of the River Hill trial all the generations of Rogers are pulling together hoping to make it a success [Music] to tie in with the theme Sarah's planned a surprise Himalayan guest somewhat at Ed's expense [Laughter] [Music] foreign [Music] you might be a little worried about your hair where will you keep your comb well the thing is my product does say that it's just stays firm underneath helmets so maybe we're under a Yeti hat [Music] with two hours to go Ruth Watson arrives to oversee proceedings hello morning good morning nice way beautiful [Music] oh yes well luckily we've got some nice people to help this morning okay all these cakes yes we've got a sample menu to Jane's putting on her are you putting on the Nate from James I'm not sure I have decided I like telling people what you're doing and what you're about that's such a good idea everybody is always then up for going with the flow of it 30 eager local school children have been drafted in to trial the Rogers Himalayan experience the event begins with an introduction from a very proud Ed welcome boys and girls the River Hill Himalayan Garden we're so excited that you can join us here today and Riverhill was bought in 1840 by my great great grandfather he wanted the best plants so he paid for people to go off and explore the Himalayas in South America and maybe this has been a sighting of a strange beast in the woods here so we do have to be very careful the children are LED up into the wooded Garden by Sarah to see some of riverhill's rarest specimens they find themselves transported back in time to the Himalayas of the 1800s those enormous trees there that's where we're going to hope the bill the tree houses look how tall they are anyone know what type of tree that is yes well done a horse chestnut look went into your trees aren't you would you like to go and see if you could find that Yeti yeah [Music] the yeti makes a lucky escape and the children make it safely to the summit Hoist the flag [Music] [Applause] [Music] the experience is clearly a hit with the youngsters and the parents are impressed too there's not anywhere really around here that's that's like this for them to just run around exactly so you'll come back when it's a proper going concerned trial has gone well and Ruth wants to know how the family feel what a successful afternoon I have to commend you for doing such a brilliant job everything about it well we're thrilled it's gone so well yeah very relieved very relieved so do you now feel um confident that this can work yeah I still make reservations about the maze because I can't see the point of it but the climbing frame and the walk I think is wonderful and I just hope that your generation Sarah Ned is going to have a wow of a time and that you know you will be able to leave something to your children for them to look forward to rather than to slightly dread and most importantly knowing that the house and the gardens are stabilized they're going to carry on for future Generations well that's what I've learned yes yes 18 months later and has the business at Riverhill got off to a successful start I think it's quite fair to say that this particular path isn't her favorite I sure have doubt and I think it's an extravagance it's been 12 months since Ruth left the Rogers family at River Hill House as they were on the brink of an exciting Adventure Ed and Sarah's plans to create the Himalayan Gardens have been realized by investing the fifty thousand pounds from the fund left by Ed's Uncle as well as money from a local Grant the historic grounds have been transformed into a unique children's experience the once poorer visitor numbers have risen from just one thousand in previous years to 12 000 in the first season generating a turnover of one hundred thousand pounds we had a lot of plans ahead of us we worked all through the winter with planners and developing schemes I'm amazed at what has been achieved really it has entirely been very hard work Ed keeps getting recognized on the station and in the office as the yeti I think most importantly Ruth has given us a huge amount of confidence to actually enact what we've done this year she just gave us pretty good kick up the backside Ruth told us to aim high and we followed that advice she said if you're serving coffee serve the best coffee if you're making scones make the best scones and there's no reason why even small things that we do can't be done in the best way possible and life has been busy for Ed and Sarah elsewhere the most exciting news was in May when our fourth child was born I thought I worked hard in the past but I didn't know the meaning of hard work it's nearing the end of River Hills opening season roofs come back to visit Ed and Sarah Keen to catch up on their developments hello good morning welcome to River Hill thank you it looks very professional she finds four generations of the Rogers family at the new Cafe hello hello how have you managed to do all of this when you've been so busy how are you doing thank you very well yes yeah the never tell moment I'm so impressed with the car park and the signs been very busy yeah and Mrs Rogers have you found it well I think it's amazing it's wonderful and Jane the tea rooms I mean look at the front of this fantastic Ruth it's not a tea room it's a cafe cafe okay sorry sorry Jane the cafe yes wonderful wonderful um it's been very very busy very successful there are things for me to see like him alone yes I'll catch up with you later yes yeah good see you later yeah that was funny in just 12 months Ed and Sarah have transformed Riverhill into a professional Enterprise by developing the gardens oh this is terrific isn't it great it's great it's fitted in really well with the trees and everything yes when I was here on my last visit this was all being cleared and you mentioned that there were trees that people hadn't seen for about 80 years I think and um yeah people hadn't been here for 80 years and now it's yeah one of our busiest areas it's being used I think can we put some more Edge time is still split between River Hill and his job in the city but he feels that his efforts now will pay off in the long run if I think of future Generations what I would like my children to inherit is a historic garden and house that is self-sufficient and they don't have to feel oh we've got to be earning X tens of thousands a year just to keep the central heating on they've made a profit of twenty thousand pounds which are investing back into the estate to continue the restoration of other parts of the garden and the house and now we've made a start with the tree house it'd be lovely to put some other bits and pieces in here so that we can make a really exciting area before children go up to the Viewpoint and the Viewpoint is the part where I nearly died and that's where we're going on Ruth's advice Ed and Sarah employed expert Adrian Fisher to design them the maze it's been planted with 1 650 yew tree saplings the posts and rails mean that the children can enjoy fathoming the twists and turns while the young trees grow I don't think I have to ask whether the maze is popular no they absolutely love it obviously your grandmother had some firm opinions about what the garden should and shouldn't have done to it I think it's quite fair to say that this particular part isn't her favorite the changes we've really made this year haven't really affected the garden as such and if this is on the outskirts the garden the play equipment is using an area that wasn't used before so you know we haven't sort of changed the substance of the garden and that's very much what we want to restore in the future Ed and Sarah have had to tread gently with their innovative ideas so as not to upset the older generations of Rogers no one has felt this pressure more than Sarah sometimes I've had to suggest things which you know my mother-in-law my grandmother-in-law I haven't thought was a good idea you do have to take a bit of a deep breath but I've got quite good at taking deep breaths and you're very very diplomatic but has anyone actually ever apologized to you for perhaps getting you wrong in something you've said or wanted to do I don't think we haven't really had too many fallings out it's just more sort of differing of opinions yeah I think we need to go onwards and literally upwards upwards quite right we've got a special event on today okay even though the Himalayan Gardens are proving successful Ed and Sarah are thinking of ways in which they can take their new business even further they've been trialing new activities such as a mobile climbing tower which they plan to introduce to next season's calendar oh that looks such fun Ruth recognizes that Ed and Sarah's hard work in the gardens has paid off but there have also been improvements in the cafe and gift shop it's a professional operation some appropriate River Hill souvenirs and it's turned over enough money to allow Ed's mother Jane to employ staff so she no longer runs it alone it's a very exciting time up it's all looking amazing so good yeah very good and how is this going because it just looks beautiful the cakes look beautiful the shop everything it's gone extremely well yes very well a great facelift isn't it tell me about how you feel with the gardens going in Ed and Sarah particularly because they've obviously worked so hard and with the new baby as well I know I know you're proud of them I am I am actually because I I realize it's Jolly hard work and your mother-in-law Mrs Rogers she's used to be really enjoying it as well yes I think she is I think she finds it a little bit much when there's quite a lot of children here which some days there could be thousands of buggies thousands of small children but after all it's the children that bring the grown-ups is this been a big change in your life I think it has been a big jump from three months um one day a week to um is it five days a week for six months but I think it's right it's certainly right and even people have suggested that we're open the whole week I said come on give us a chance foreign have been significant and will help secure its future as a family home before she meets with Mrs Rogers Ruth commends Ed and Sarah on their achievements it's I seem to recall that at some stage I said you had to step up and be the man do you feel that you would have actually fulfilled this quite as quickly as efficiently without your darling Sarah no I don't think I would have done at all you know I might have got there eventually but um I think you know she's definitely been the fighting Forester do you feel that your role here has been validated by the success of River Hill Himalayan Gardens yes I feel that now I've contributed something to River Hill and therefore I've got the right to feel that this is my home now for me you are fantastic team every project going I'm really proud of what you've achieved and I just hope I don't need to Hope actually I'm absolutely certain this will be a thrilling success All That Remains is for Ruth to see Mrs Rogers who was always unsure of expansion at Riverhill I'm so impressed with what the your experience variants gave Ed the courage to invest a lot into it and I'm very grateful for that because he wouldn't have dared do it without your you know your encouragement have you personally been troubled by the fact that the numbers have gone from a thousand to ten thousand visitors oh no I'm of course I'm pleased of course I'm pleased with that yes I have to be very very careful crossing the drive because there's so many cars coming down but every time they come down I think well that's money and we need it that's such a super reaction I'm very pleased you feel that way about it you had grave doubts about the value of putting a maze in how do you feel about that now I sure have doubt because they've given themselves a labor-intensive thing which is going to be labor intensive always I just feel it's totally foreign to River Hills and I think it's an extravagance when there's so much that needs doing near the house the inspiring thing here has really been opening up that Woodland and I think it's been a terrific draw the little boys they all come down carrying a stick and thinks it's marvelous he wanted the undergrowth cleared little boys are doing it for him you know every little boy who goes up there comes down with a stick Mrs Rogers was concerned that Ed and Sarah's plans would change the family feel of River Hill Ruth wants to know if her worries have eased do you think Ed and Sarah have done right by this house and garden I think they've probably been at Salvation I've only been worried that it wouldn't work and they'd lose money on it that's what frightened the life out of me you know but you're not frightened anymore not really no I just keep my fingers crossed long may at last but I think if it's kicked off to an amazing start and I think they may have saved the place I think they probably have it's rather wonderful [Music]

Channel: Abode

Views: 110,740

Keywords: home and garden, Abode, Abode channel, home renovation, renovation, home and garden channel, home and garden tv shows, home design ideas, garden design ideas

Id: CHwLC4YJn-c

Length: 46min 44sec (2804 seconds)

Published: Fri Feb 10 2023