Being made almost wholly of natural materials, the Well Dressings do not remain pristine for long. With proper care and attention, they can survive the rigours of the English summer weather for several days, but by the end of a week they are often past their best.
Given the long summer evenings, it should be possible to see all the Well Dressings in daylight, even though some are floodlit after dark. However, late at night or early in the morning, some Well Dressings may not be accessible at all, either because they are inside buildings which are closed or because they are covered for protection.