IT is regarded as one of Scotland’s finest historic properties, a sumptuous 17th century Palladian villa with 300 years of history that continues to enthral visitors today.

But a plague of moths is threatening to harm the historic collection at Newhailes House, near Musselburgh, East Lothian, and conservation charity the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) is this week embarking on its biggest ever management programme to rid the property of the insatiable insects.

The webbing clothes moths are notorious for feeding on clothing and natural fibres, with the ability to turn keratin – a protein of which hair and wool mainly consist of – into their food.

They are serious pests, particularly keen on carpeting and clothing and, unlike other moths, seem to prefer dark and dim areas.

The winged creatures are also known to favour handmade rugs because it’s easier for the larvae to crawl underneath and do their damage; all of which poses challenging problems for Newhailes, situated in 34 hectares of 18th century designed landscape.

NTS experts are now to combine a deep clean with a deep freeze, installing two industrial freezers – each the size of shipping crates – at the property.

Over the next two months, the entire textile collection – from carpets and curtains to sofas, chairs and clothing – will undergo a sub-zero treatment to freeze and destroy the moth eggs and larvae.

Items will be wrapped in acid-free tissue paper, then covered in polythene, before being placed in the freezers where temperatures will drop to -35°C (-31°F).

Staff will then use specialist back-mounted vacuum cleaners to reach into every nook and crannie of the house to clean away the moths.

Owned by NTS, Newhailes House was once home to the influential Dalrymple family, who gave the property its revered library, rococo interiors and admired collections of paintings, ceramics and furniture. The home has strong links to the “Scottish Enlightenment”, as the Dalrymples were patrons, providing support to scholars who were drawn to the House’s library, including philosopher and economist Adam Smith.

Highlights include the magnificent dining room, impressive Italian marble fireplaces and 18th-century trompe l’oeil decoration in the Chinese sitting room.

But in 2016, staff noticed a sharp rise in the “webbing clothes moth” – or common clothes moth – and have been endeavouring to manage the problem with localised treatment and targeted deep cleaning ever since.

However, moth numbers – and damage – have continued and the organisation is implementing the freeze programme to protect the Newhailes collection.

The charity has used freezers to destroy moths at other properties in the past, but on a small scale using chest-sized freezers.

The two, 20ft long freezers that are being deployed at Newhailes represent the organisation’s biggest ever attempt to keep moth numbers down.

Mel Houston, national preventive conservator at the NTS, said: “This is the biggest project that the National Trust for Scotland has ever undertaken to tackle a pest problem like this and protect the important collections here at Newhailes.

“In the last year moth numbers at Newhailes have exploded and we’ve seen a four-fold increase in how many we’re finding.

“We’re lucky to have been able to catch the problem at just the right time, when we’re able to do something to control the moths before really serious damage is done.

“The deep freeze and deep clean gives us the confidence we’re killing off as many moths as we can. We’ll never get rid of them completely but we’ll be able to get down to the level where they can be controlled.”

A team of mothbusting volunteers has now been recruited to work with the Trust’s collection and conservation team to undertake the low temperature treatment, deep cleaning of the historic interior and collection movements.

During the project, the NTS will also be running tours so the public can learn about the damage the insects have caused and see the moth management programme in action.

A spokeswoman said: “The Moth Project offers visitors a unique opportunity to view the house in a different context and understand the conservation work undertaken to preserve the historic collection and interior.

“A team of volunteers will be working with our collection and conservation team to undertake the collection’s low temperature treatment, deep cleaning of the historic interior, and collection movements.

“On these public tours you will be able to see the work progress in the House, meet our staff and volunteers, and learn about collections care and integrated pest management.”

Public tours will run this Wednesday and also on February 13, 20 and 27 and March 6 and 13. More information at: www.nts.org.uk/visit/events/conservation-tour-moth-project