David Horton-Fawkes, the estate’s chief executive, said security would be stepped up on the site.
“I’m baffled to be honest with you,” he said. “It’s not as if this place is suddenly being closed to people, actually quite the reverse.
“We’re inviting more people to come and enjoy this place and we’re investing a huge amount of money, the Ellis family, in restoring these two estates so it’s fantastic news.
“We’re employing literally hundreds of local craftspeople and to do something like this just seems deranged frankly.”
Horton-Fawkes said the damage to the gardens was the latest incident of “interference” on the estate.
In one incident, he said oil that had been providing fuel to a holiday cottage was turned off.
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