This year, we are celebrating 10 years of the Gardens Trust: a decade of championing the rich heritage of historic gardens and landscapes across the UK, empowering people, and making a meaningful difference nationwide. It’s also been a year of change. These are exceptionally difficult times, but we are not stepping back, we’re stepping forward.
We’re entering a new phase, with renewed determination and agility. Our expertise, our relationships with County Gardens Trusts, and our national network mean we remain a powerful voice for historic landscapes. We face challenges but have the trust, respect, and track record that make our input vital.
To mark our 10-year milestone, and shape the next decade, we’re launching a special campaign to raise £10,000 to support 10 inspiring goals for the future. One of these goals is to continue engaging with thousands of planning applications, offering expert guidance and advocating strongly for historic parks and gardens. The mechanism may change, but our mission hasn’t. Your support will help ensure our influence continues to shape decisions, raise awareness, and protect these extraordinary places.
Together, we can ensure that historic gardens and landscapes continue to thrive, inspire, and bring people together for generations to come. Every donation, large or small, makes a difference.
Our 10 Goals for the Next 10 Years
- Continue to influence 15,000 planning applications: We are determined to remain a credible and trusted advocate in the planning system. With your help, we will monitor and respond to planning applications, advise local authorities and partners, and empower County Gardens Trusts and volunteers to act. We’ll use our knowledge, relationships, and determination to make sure these irreplaceable landscapes are not overlooked. Our influence will continue; through expertise, collaboration, and the voices of our growing community.
- Upskill 6,000 people: Provide online and in-person training sessions to equip individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to research, understand, and advocate for the conservation of historic parks and gardens. By doing so, we empower more people to contribute to their protection, ensuring expertise is shared and sustained over time.
- Support 5,000 volunteers: Provide training, resources, and opportunities to empower a passionate network of individuals dedicated to the preservation and protection of historic gardens and landscapes. Their dedication strengthens our collective ability to safeguard these spaces, fostering a community of active stewards.
- Engage 1,500 new members: Develop educational programmes, events, and outreach initiatives to inspire individuals to join and support the Gardens Trust, connecting them with the beauty, significance and value of historic landscaped gardens. Growing our membership base increases our influence and capacity to advocate for these important landscapes.
- Organise 850 events and sell 100,000 tickets: Bring people together through engaging online lectures, in-person events, garden visits, workshops, and conferences. These gatherings not only generate vital funding but also raise awareness, deepen appreciation, and encourage active participation in our cause. These events celebrate the joy and history of gardens, educate and inspire attendees, and support the mission of The Gardens Trust.
- Strengthen our relationship with 36 County Gardens Trusts: Foster deeper connections through collaborative initiatives, joint projects, and shared resources that highlight the importance of preserving and celebrating historic gardens and landscapes, while engaging communities and building mutual support. This ensures a unified and coordinated effort in conservation, maximising our collective impact.
- Publish 100 papers, articles and reports: Deliver high-quality publications that inform, educate, and inspire garden enthusiasts and professionals alike. These resources contribute to the body of knowledge on garden history and conservation, supporting research and policy advocacy. This includes the Gardens Trust’s annual journal and the New Research Symposium, fostering knowledge and supporting the next generation of garden historians.
- Create 50 new partnerships: Collaborate with like-minded organisations to amplify our impact and reach. Strategic partnerships help us extend our advocacy efforts, share expertise, and enhance the visibility of our work.
- Digitise 1,000 archival items: Make historic garden records and resources accessible to all by expanding our online archives. This preserves valuable historical information and makes it easier for researchers, advocates, and the public to engage with our shared heritage.
- Inspire 3 million people: Spread awareness of the importance and significance of historic designed gardens and landscapes through our campaigns, social media, resources, and outreach programmes. Inspiring a wider audience helps build a stronger movement for garden conservation, encouraging more people to value and protect these spaces.
How You Can Help
Your support is vital to making these 10-year goals a reality. By donating today, you’re not just celebrating our past achievements, you’re helping to ensure that historic designed gardens and landscapes will be protected long into the future. Let’s make the next decade as impactful as the last!
🌿 Donate today to be part of this inspiring journey and to be part of the difference 10 years from now and help us keep the voice for historic gardens loud and respected.
Thank you for your support!
