Like many historic houses cared for by the National Trust, Castle Drogo is under attack . . .
Not from siege engines or cannons but from a far sneakier force, the secret 'Agents of Decay' who silently work to damage the castle and its quirky contents.
Thankfully, Drogo has a small army of defenders — the conservation team — who do battle with these destructive agents. But they need your help.
People can join them every Friday in August from noon to 4pm as they encourage visitors to help them carry out vital conservation work?
The conservation team usually work behind the scenes when the castle is closed to combat the powerful agents of decay, which range from insect pests and dust to light and wear and tear.
But now they are demonstrating conservation in action during opening hours and inviting people to help them with their mission.
Come along to find out how to stop pests munching their way through furniture and the special techniques used to keep historic objects clean.
Discover how too much cleaning can be a bad thing and how touching things can wear them out. Have a go at handling various objects and try to get them clean. Could you make it as a conservation assistant at Castle Drogo?
If that sounds too much like hard work, you can always have a go at the free quizzes in the castle, play croquet in the garden or follow the Medieval Life Trail round the grounds, as Drogo is open seven days a week in the school holidays, with something on every day. Phone 01647 433306 for more details.
Conservation in Action afternoons will take place every Friday until September 26.