Tatton Park pre-loved bookshop hailed 'massive success' raising £20k

In its first year the new initiative has sold more than 10,000 books and contributed more than £20,000 to Tatton Park Charitable Trust (TPCT).

Mike Ward, trustee of TPCT has spearheaded the project which has created another visitor attraction as well as raising revenue.

The bookshop is run entirely by volunteers (Image: Supplied)

The funds are spent on conservation projects, programmes to inspire children and young people, increasing accessibility, enhancing the 1,000 acres of historic parkland, and supporting the historic farm and its work with rare breeds.

The trust has hailed the venture a ‘massive success’.

Several thousand books are in stock (Image: Supplied)

Steve Wilkinson, chairman of the trustees, said: “We’re excited about the progress the shop has made and can see it being an important way to contribute to Tatton going forward.

“We appreciate the support we’ve had from Cheshire East in getting this off the ground”.

The whole enterprise is run and supported by its volunteers.

Mike Ward, trustee of TPCT, said: “We have developed a fantastic team of over 20 volunteers whose passion, spirit and energy bring the whole thing to life.

“The bookshop wouldn’t exist without them.

“We’re grateful too to our book donors including Cheshire East Libraries who have provided us with such high quality stock.”

Books can be donated at a drop off point in the Stableyard at Tatton, Knutsford Methodist Church or by handing them to one of the volunteers in the shop.

The shop has several thousand books in stock, thanks to its wide donor base.

There is something for all tastes from childrens’ books to popular fiction as well as more unusual vintage textbooks.

The trust was created to support education, conservation and restoration projects for the benefit of all visitors to Tatton Park.

It is a voluntary body run by local trustees, which aims to raise donations and grants to help ensure this popular tourist attraction is preserved for future generations.

Among the trust’s other projects at the Animal Adoption Scheme for rare breeds at Tatton’s farm, Tatton’s own premium gin, using botanicals from the gardens and schemes to improve accessibility for visitors and fund coach travel for educational visits from local schools.

Tatton Park is managed and financed by Cheshire East Council on behalf of the National Trust.

The picturesque parkland, 18th century mansion, medieval old hall, award-winning gardens and rare breed farm attract around 720,000 visitors every year.