Today The Impartial Reporter, in association with the National Trust in Fermanagh, launches a campaign to reinstate Florence Court’s Summer House which was destroyed by fire last month.

Joining forces with the conservation charity, we are asking you our readers to help rebuild this important feature of the property by donating directly to a special Just Giving page or sending a donation by post to Florence Court.

After the Summer House fire this newspaper inundated with messages on our facebook page from members of public, all expressing their sadness and disappointment that the thatched building had been destroyed. Its destruction touched a nerve with many. The Summer House represented an oasis of calm in a busy world. Not only do numerous people have happy memories of sitting in the house enjoying that iconic view it commanded over the Fermanagh countryside but they also loved its connection with the past. Built in 1993, the Summer House was a replica of an earlier 18th century building on the same site which had been removed during the 1930s. Overlooking the estate’s Pleasure Gardens as well as Benaughlin and distant mountains, it was a favourite backdrop for many photographs.

Such was the reaction to the news of the fire that journalist Julie Kenwell came up with the idea of this newspaper running a campaign to let readers who were so upset at the destruction of the Summer House play their part in its reinstatement.

We were delighted to join with the National Trust to help in this way as we know how much this piece of Fermanagh’s heritage has meant to you, our readers.

National Trust personnel are currently preparing plans for the full reconstruction of the Summer House. If you would like to be part of that, you can donate by logging on to the Just Giving page www.justgiving.com/Florence-Court or by posting a cheque made payable to the National Trust sent to Let’s Rebuild Florence Court Summer House, National Trust, Florence Court, Enniskillen BT92 1DB.