 She worked for many charitable causes including the National Garden Scheme of which she was chairwoman.Since Lady Heald's death in 2004  extensive restoration work has been carried out and the garden, fittingly, opened as part of the National Garden Scheme.John Bunyan, who lived nearby at one time, is reputed to have based The Hill of Difficulty in "Pilgrims Progress" on the path from the manor to St Martha's Chapel.