IT has been a fascinating feature in the gardens of Gilbert White’s House in Selborne for several decades but now, thanks to a £300 restoration, The Wine-Pipe is spinning again – and just in time for Mothering Sunday.

This rather unusual feature was made by White from the remains of his HaHa with a spinning port barrel on top and finished with a thatched roof.

A replica has been a feature in the gardens for many decades and councillor David Ashcroft, a regular supporter of the museum, thought how good it would be to see the wine-pipe spin again; which prompted a project among garden staff and volunteers.

But upon looking more closely at the barrel, that has survived many years of English weather, it was clear that a more drastic repair was needed.

Mr Ashcroft gifted more than £300 to the project, as part of East Hampshire District Council’s councillor community scheme, and the garden team at Gilbert White’s set about finding an old-fashioned port barrel that was big enough for someone to easily fit in.

Gilbert White famously shared the port from his barrel with the Selborne’s vicar, Mr Etty, but the garden team headed by volunteers Peter Holdaway, Arnold Jarman and garden manager Rose Malyon weren’t as fortunate.

Eventually they struck lucky when Scottish cooperage Speyside donated an empty barrel. Mr Holdaway developed a new safe way for the barrel to rotate slowly, and the feature has at last been restored to its former glory.

The wine-pipe was used by Gilbert White as a place to sit and observe nature and, protected by the elements, he could turn the seat to get a 360-degree view of the natural world around him, and now visitors can too.

“Gilbert White’s wine-pipe is such an important part of this landscape,” said Judith Bowles, co-director of the museum.

“It’s the thing people remember vividly from visits, even decades on, and is such an integral part of Gilbert’s story, and for engaging the community with nature.”

The 25 acres of garden and museum are open to the public from 10.30am Tuesday to Sunday.