In 1993, Marylyn Abbott purchased the 99 year lease of West Green House from the National Trust. Since then it has been run as a private garden with the National Trust relinquishing all financial and day to day involvement with the estate. The Gardens have been faithfully restored and further developed introducing contemporary design ideas, cascades and features and in 2000 Marylyn initiated the first ever Opera Season. Today the opera is performed from a stage cantilevered from the lake’s island with the audience seated in covered pavilions lake side and held annually in July and August.