Castle Howard by Hawksmoor. The grounds of Castle Howard are also used as part of at least two charity running races during the year. Located on the Estate, but operating separately to the house and gardens and run by an entirely independent charitable trust, is the Yorkshire Arboretum. Originally created through the enthusiasm and partnership of George Howard (Lord Howard of Henderskelfe) and James Russell, over a period of eighteen years, from 1975 to 1992, it was opened to the public for the first time in 1999 and a new Visitor Centre opened in 2006.The arboretum's extensive and important collection of 6,000
Castle Howard one of the largest country houses in England, with a total of 145 rooms. According to figures released by the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions, nearly 220,000 people visited Castle Howard in 2010. In 2009 an underwater ground-source heat recovery system was installed under the castle's lake that halved the heating bill. Castle Howard has extensive and diverse gardens. There is a large formal garden immediately behind the house. The house is prominently situated on a ridge and this was exploited to create an English landscape park, which opens out from the formal garden and merges with the park. Two