A programme of works is due to start in the coming weeks on Torre Abbey Historic House’s Victorian Palm House.

Torbay Council’s Principal Natural Environment Officer, Neil Coish, who has currently taken over responsibility for the Palm House and gardens, said: “This is great news for the Palm House at Torre Abbey. Work will include installing a fully integrated control system which will monitor temperature and humidity within the house, creating a stable environment suitable for different plant species. It will also make the glass structure more energy efficient.

“The control system will automatically sequence and control the current boiler equipment, high windows and low level dampers. This will enable temperatures and humidity to be maintained within set parameters while monitoring the external temperature to optimise the energy used.

“While the control system will be fully autonomous, it will also be able to be controlled remotely should any of the parameters require adjustment or monitoring. It will also immediately flag up any problematic environment conditions for the species homed in the structure enabling corrective action to be taken quickly.”

For further information on the Palm House and Torre Abbey Historic House and Gardens visit torre-abbey.org.uk