Blickling Estate twins with Bayt al-Razzaz in Cairo

Bayt al-Razzaz is seeing increasing damage associated with intense rainfall – so intense that a neighbouring building recently collapsed, with knock-on damage to the palace itself. The EHRF team have had to think carefully about how to adapt to this, introducing sloping roofs and gutters to carry rain away and prevent water ingress.

At the same time, EHRF are developing all sorts of activities to engage the local community with their shared heritage, and inspire future generations to take care of it. The team have been collecting oral histories from local residents – many of whom can remember the courtyard being used to celebrate weddings. They’re also working with young people to raise their awareness of environmental issues, and have been developing an illustrated book and graphic novel to share stories of Bayt al-Razzaz with younger audiences.

Adaptation at Blickling Estate

Water is also a big issue at Blickling Estate, where the team are seeing evidence of damage that they think may be caused by shrink-swell. This happens on clay-based ground, where the clay swells up as it absorbs extra water, and then shrinks and cracks as it dries out again. Cracks have appeared around some of the doors, indicating movement in the building’s foundations. The mansion’s basement has seen flooding – while in the garden, a section of retaining wall has had to be rebuilt after waterlogged soil caused a partial collapse.

Blickling’s precious collections are also seeing increased climate impacts – from the leaded windows softening in extreme summer heat and risking loss of glass panes, to veneers on wooden furniture warping, to increased pest activity caused by hotter temperatures and higher relative humidity.

The Blickling team are tackling these issues one step at a time. Renaturalising the Silvergate stream that runs towards the house – and absorbing more water into the landscape – has already helped to manage excess rainfall. Recent work to restore the culvert and dam at Blickling’s lake has also helped to prevent further flooding. In the house, micro-wasps have been used to manage pests that damage collection items.

Working together

Climate change is of course a global phenomenon, and while the impacts of a changing climate will differ from place to place, there is a lot that heritage organisations can learn from one another when thinking about how to adapt and protect precious places. The Blickling and EHRF teams have been exchanging their knowledge and best practice about climate adaptation – and also sharing other aspects of their work, including working with local partners, producing innovative programming to engage new audiences, and working towards sustainable business models.

As well as meeting online, members of the Blickling and EHRF teams have been able to visit the partner sites in person. In January 2025, Blickling’s general manager Heather Jermy delivered a talk on climate adaptation at Bayt al-Razzaz – to a wide audience including Withstanding Change project partners from across the Middle East and East Africa, local heritage sector organisations, and the British ambassador to Egypt, no less!

As a result of this partnership, the Blickling team have produced some new interpretation which highlights the impacts of climate change on the Blickling Estate, and encourages visitors to take action. In October 2024, Nesreen Sharara of EHRF will also be spending a week at Blickling as artist in residence, and visitors will be able to come and see her at work in the Loft above the shop. Watch this space for further details!

Withstanding Change is an International National Trusts Organisation (INTO) project, funded by the British Council’s Cultural Protection Fund with support from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

For more information about the project and the other National Trust places that have been twinned with overseas heritage sites, visit the INTO website.