Gardeners reflect on the Covid-19 experience

As Covid-19 hit, historic parks and gardens found themselves forced to shut their gates just at the start of the Spring season. This has made for a Spring like no other. Many gardeners were furloughed as their employers struggled to make ends meet without visitor income, while others were still at work but in rather […]

A reprieve for Essex gardens and landscapes

Saling Grove landscape saved from garden community

A historic park and gardens, including those at Great Saling and Easton Lodge have had a reprieve, thanks to a recent decision by planning inspectors. Great Saling is the only village in the country that has two registered parks and gardens. Essex local authorities planned to build several ‘garden communities’ to meet the need for […]

LPGT launch appeal to protect Victoria Tower Gardens

The Gardens Trust wholeheartedly supports the London Parks & Gardens Trust (LPGT) in their efforts to protect the Grade-II listed Victoria Tower Gardens. They have now launched a judicial review of the Government’s decision to call in the planning application to build a large National Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre on this public park next to […]

Gardens Trust’s education goes online

The Gardens Trust is taking its education programme online. While lockdown might be easing a little, it’s clear that some restrictions are going to be with us for a long time to come.  So, while we hope to run visits and study days in the future, for now we are moving as many of our […]

New home for Conservation Management Plans

Over the coming months we will be transferring the Gardens Trust’s bibliography of Conservation Management Plans to OASIS, a UK-wide online database. OASIS enables heritage practitioners to provide information and submit reports on their work to heritage bodies and local Historic Environment Records. OASIS is an important database for archaeologists which has been expanded to […]

A huge thank you to all our volunteers

Volunteers planting foxgloves in Rivington Terrace Garden

In Volunteers’ Week, we would like to say a huge thank you to all the volunteers who help the Gardens Trust and County Gardens Trusts around the country to protect historic parks and gardens. We simply couldn’t exist without their incredible efforts. Volunteers help to keep our cogs turning, organise events, research parks and gardens, […]

Road and car park proposals threaten Elvaston Castle estate

Elvaston Castle topiary gardens

The Friends of Elvaston Castle in Derbyshire have contacted the Gardens Trust about their fears for the future of Elvaston. The gardens at Elvaston, of topiary and rockwork, are registered Grade II* on the Register of Park and Gardens of Special Historic Interest, so they are of considerable national importance. Elvaston house and gardens as […]