Memorandum submitted by the Association
of Gardens Trusts on behalf of the County Gardens Trusts
1. BRIEF INTRODUCTION
OF THE
ASSOCIATION AND
SUMMARY OF
THE MAIN
POINTS
1.1 The Association of Gardens Trusts was
established as a charitable trust in 1993 and comprises 35 County
Trusts in England, together with another 10 in Wales. We have
over 7,500 members who actively support the care and conservation
of our historic designed landscapes, parks and gardens for the
enjoyment and education of all ages. The Objectives of the Charity
are to promote Gardens Trusts, and through them, the interest,
education, appreciation and involvement of the public in matters
connected with the arts and sciences of parks and gardens; and
to assist in the protection, conservation, restoration or creation
of parks and gardens in the United Kingdom for the education and
enjoyment of the public.
1.2 The main points are to understand that
the provision of archives in museums, galleries and cultural properties
provides the foundation for our aims. The reasons they are so
valuable are listed with some examples of our work. A recent television
programme illustrates what happens when research has been funded,
and why we consider that funding should be continued.
2. THE AIMS
OF COUNTY
GARDENS TRUSTS,
THE TYPES
OF ARCHIVES
WHICH THEY
USE, AND
FOR WHAT
PURPOSE
2.1 Access to libraries, museums and archives
is an indispensable part of the Association of Gardens Trusts'
and the County Gardens Trusts' research work on the history and
development of our park and garden heritage. This research is
particularly important for English Heritage, the Heritage Lottery
Fund and local authorities. Archives include paintings, pictures,
photographs, maps, film, tape and video recordings as well as
documents. These are available to our researchers in libraries,
museums, galleries and County Record Offices throughout the country.
The information derived from these sources provide the foundation
on which to promote the Trusts' aims to help everyone, of all
ages, to recognise the value of historic parks and gardens, their
contribution to people's well being and to the character of the
area; and to support their protection and conservation. Historic
parks and gardens encompass public parks, cemeteries, educational
establishments and hospital grounds, as well as private parks
and gardens.
3. THE REASONS
WHY ARCHIVAL
RESEARCH IS
VALUABLE
Research, recording and surveying is essential
within the Trusts
3.1 to help "stock take" and identify
"hidden treasures", and identify where further research
is required;
3.2 to help develop planning policies and
to identify specific sites and their boundaries for protection
within local plans;
3.3 to identify local characteristics and
features that contribute to local distinctiveness;
3.4 to inform the accurate restoration,
conservation and management of historic parks and gardens;
3.5 to help identify and conserve historic
parks and gardens endangered by neglect or inappropriate development;
3.6 to inform proposals for change and development,
mitigating their impact and capitalising on opportunities for
conservation, regeneration and economic benefit;
3.7 to promote public interest, appreciation
and participation in specific sites, and their use as a resource
for education, recreation and tourism.
4. SOME EXAMPLES
OF THE
WORK THAT
COUNTY GARDENS
TRUSTS HAVE
COMPLETED
4.1 In 2002, Essex Gardens Trust produced
their first handbook (The District of Braintree) of the County's
Historic Designed Landscapes. In their introduction it is noted
that "This [Inventory] is based on archive research and ground
survey, and aims to identify those sites which still retain sufficient
historic elements and integrity to make a valuable contribution
both to the Essex landscape and to the county heritage".[3]
4.2 Yorkshire Gardens Trust carried out
research for the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
4.3 Hampshire Gardens Trust volunteers were
closely associated with Hampshire County Council in the collation
of the County's inventory of Historic Parks and Gardens sites,
and have continued to work with the County Authorities and the
Districts and Unitary Authorities, to provide historic parks and
gardens research.[4]
4.4 Research by Garden Trust members is
acknowledged in various publications, including The Garden
History of Devon by Todd Gray; Parks and Gardens of Avon
by Stewart Harding and David Lambert; Historic Parks and Gardens
of Shropshire by Paul Stamper; Historic Gardens of Wales
by Elizabeth Whittle, Register of Landscape Parks and Gardens
of Special Historic Interest in Wales, published by Cadw,
The Historic Parks and Gardens of Leicestershire and Rutland,
by Leonard Cantor and Anthony Squires.
5. RESEARCH THROUGH
FUNDING
Heritage Lottery Funding has provided welcome
funding for the restoration of many Victorian Parks and Gardens.
A recent BBC programme[5]
provided an excellent example of how historic research has enabled
many Victorian public parks in our cities to be restored to some
of their previous glory. The programme showed how these can be
invaluable areas and resources for local urban communities.
6. RECOMMENDATION
FOR FUNDING
We recommend that libraries, museums, and archives
should continue to be maintained at a high level with sufficient
well-trained, well-motivated staff; and to provide thorough training
for current and future archivists and conservators. Archival material
is irreplaceable and a tangible record of our culture. It helps
benefit the historic research and studies required for present
and future generations to appreciate and enjoy our heritage of
parks and gardens as valuable resources for their communities.
September 2006
3 Essex Gardens Trust, Archive Research Group, 2002,
p 1. Back
4
Hampshire County Council, Hampshire Register of Historic Parks
and Gardens, Hampshire County Council, 2002. Back
5
BBC 2 Gardeners' World Specials, 4/4, Parks, No 1321,
televised on 18 August 2006 at 20.00. Back
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