Saturday 21 December 2013

A Christmas Message from The Association of Gardens Trusts




Wishing all our members, friends and supporters a wonderful Christmas and a happy, healthy, and successful 2014!

Monday 11 November 2013

Passing on the joy of gardening

Have you noticed?  Change is in the air.  Just 3 years ago the Association of Gardens Trusts (AGT) joined with other concerned organisations to discuss ways in which government and society could be encouraged to wake up to the importance of gardens and gardening.  A year later, Chris Beardshaw, speaking at the Institute of Horticulture AGM, reminded the gardening world of its responsibility to pass on the joy of plants and gardening.  Today, more and more individuals and organisations are getting the message and are joining in the debate.  They're asking questions and they're asking them loudly.

(copyright - Liz Ware)
An important trigger has been the recent RSPB research project. http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/355439-just-one-in-five-uk-children-connected-to-nature-groundbreaking-study-finds-  It looked at levels of connection between the UK's children and nature.  The results were predictable.  More hopeful has been the widespread reaction to the report.  In its wake comes 'Project Wild Thing' - a film with a mission - to encourage all of us, but families in particular, to 'swap screen time for wild time'. http://projectwildthing.com


As a recent article in The Guardian pointed out, all the indications are that this isn't just another 'protest' film that will disappear without trace in a month or two. http://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/oct/24/project-wild-thing-review  It's backed up by a 'Wild Network' of charities committed to getting people outside. http://projectwildthing.com/organisations/join

In a similar vein, Kitchen Garden Magazine has just reported on a new television series that begins in December. http://www.kitchengarden.co.uk/news/great-british-garden-revivival- Almost every garden 'celebrity' that you can think of will be encouraging the population of Britain to get outside and get growing.  The message will soon become too big to ignore!

Spreading 'the joy' of connecting to nature can be done on so many levels and in so many ways.  Californian garden designer Topher Delaney endeavours to encourage change in 'one person at a time'. http://www.tdelaney.com/philosophy2.php

(copyright - Liz Ware)
As I watch the wide range of articles flooding in for next year's AGT Yearbook and read about the very many projects with which the County Gardens Trusts are involved, it strikes me that our approach is similar to that of Topher Delaney.  Somewhere, beyond all the noisy (and necessary) publicity, the CGTs continue protecting designed gardens and landscapes.  We go on educating and offering help to anyone who needs it.  In common with many other small charities, quietly and without a fuss, we're spreading the joy of gardening, just as we've always done, one project at a time.

 Perhaps the rest of the world is finally catching up!

Wednesday 23 October 2013

Gardens and commemorating the First World War

Given the vast numbers of people who were involved in the First World War, most of us have a personal link to the events of 1914-18. Certainly, every village, town and county has a story to tell - and so do our gardens. As the four years of Commemoration approach there are plenty of opportunities to do some research and to share what we find.

The Imperial War Museum is leading the First World War Centenary Partnership - a network of cultural and educational organisations. At the moment, the Museum itself is only partially open while the new First World War galleries are prepared, but the website is up and running -  http://www.1914.org .  Have a look and see whether there are any opportunities for your County Gardens Trust to get involved.
(copyright Liz Ware)

During 2014, an exciting exhibition at The Garden Museum  will uncover some of the stories that have been overlooked by military histories. Russell Clark, Curator of Exhibitions, is collecting material that explores the role of gardening during the First World War. What, for example, was the impact on large estates and designed landscapes as the men who worked in them went off to fight? How were the lives of the women who replaced them transformed? It will tell the little known stories of the Trench Gardens and of the men who grew flowers and vegetables at the Front. If you have stories, objects or photographs that would help, then please get in touch with Russell at the The Garden Museum.  http://www.gardenmuseum.org.uk

If you are interested in researching or caring for war memorials, English Heritage has a useful pdf on its website that will help:  http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/publications/conservation-management-war-memorial-landscapes/conservation-management-war-memorial-landscapes.pdf

If you find a subject worth researching, or an educational project that you would like to run, how will you fund it? The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) is making £1m available for each year of the Commemoration to fund projects relating to the war. They say that the application procedure is quick and straightforward, so why not have a look - http://www.hlf.org.uk/HowToApply/whatwefund/FirstWorldWar/Pages/FirstWorldWar.aspx#.UmgBDBb3Bz8




Tuesday 24 September 2013

Capability Brown and AGT Celebrations

The Association of Gardens Trusts is 20 years old!  We celebrated at our Annual Conference in East London.  London Parks & Gardens Trust treated us to a look at the regeneration that has taken place in East London's designed landscapes over the last 60 years.  From the restoration of Victoria Park http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/lgsl/451-500/461_parks/victoria_park/history.aspx to the soon to be completed Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park http://queenelizabetholympicpark.co.uk, this area of London has been completely transformed.

The regeneration of Mile End Park started in 1995. http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/lgsl/451500/461_parks/mile_end_park/history_and_background.aspx.  Part of the brief was that it should be built in consultation with the local community and that it should be sustainable.  Mike Rowan, Head of Parks in Tower Hamlets until earlier this year, talked us through the process.  Today, the park caters for the needs of a very diverse group of visitors and in an inspirational way.  It left many of us pondering the lack of similar opportunities for young people in rural areas.

(copyright Liz Ware)
Regeneration hasn't been easy.  Fortunately, there have been enough people with vision to carry these enormous projects through.  Visiting the Thames Barrier Park and the Olympic Park today, it's difficult to believe that the land on both sites was ever heavily contaminated.  Over a million cubic metres of soil had to be cleaned on-site before the Olympic Park could be built.

Olympic Park landscape architects Andrew Harland and David Thompson talked us through the next stage of the project: transforming it into the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.  The vast areas of concrete that were needed to cope with the many thousands of Olympic visitors can now be reduced and replaced with something more inviting. http://www.willerby-landscapes.co.uk/were-back...at-south-park.html

In Canary Wharf, building up towards the sky and putting car parks and shopping malls underground leaves plenty of space for green squares at ground level.  It was a curious sensation to stand in the peaceful, undulating landscape of Jubilee Park, designed by Jacques and Peter Wirtz, and watch the madness of retail therapy taking place in the shopping mall below.

What else are we celebrating?  The launch of the Capability Brown website.  Have a look and see which organisations are partnering us in the preparations for the Brown Tercentenary.  2016 will be such a great opportunity to get people engaged with designed landscapes.  It's a chance to open people's eyes, not only to Brownian landscapes, but also to the diverse range of designed landscapes that exist on their doorsteps. http://www.capabilitybrown.org

Monday 19 August 2013

'Love Parks Week' every week of the year?

How sad that GreenSpace (the national parks charity that launched and promoted 'Love Parks Week') is no more.  How fortunate that Keep Britain Tidy  has come to the rescue and that nearly 500 events went ahead during 'Love Parks Week' this year.

Keep Britain Tidy already supports the best of our parks and green spaces with the green Flag Award Scheme http://greenflag.keepbritaintidy.org. Earlier this month the charity neatly brought the two together when they held the launch of the 2013 awards at Victoria Embankment Gardens during 'Love Parks Week' celebrations. Starting with Tai Chi at 6 a.m. and finishing with 'Shakespeare in the Park', the day seems to have offered something for everyone.  It's worth checking the 'Love Parks Week' website to get an idea of the imaginative events that took place this year http://loveparksweek.org.uk/content/whats. There are plenty of ideas that could work in your local park in 2014.
(copyright Liz Ware)

Keep Britain Tidy is already looking to the event's future.  It hopes to form a new coalition of organisations that will support a year round 'Love Parks' campaign.  We'll be watching developments closely.  In the meantime, have a look at the Green Heritage Site section on the Green Flag Award website http://greenflag.keepbritaintidy.org/awards/green-heritage-sites/.  There might be a project in your county that fits the bill.

Looking forward to meeting some of you at Mile End for the AGT Conference.  Organised this year by London Parks & Gardens Trust, 'Eastern Promise- transforming London's landscapes from Abercrombie to the Olympics', will look at the development of East London's landscapes over the last sixty years. http://www.londongardenstrust.org No doubt it will be as stimulating as we've come to expect AGT conferences to be.


Saturday 6 July 2013

Gardens, literature, and memories

Can there be a more intoxicating mix for a relaxing June weekend than gardens, music, good food, and the chance to listen to stimulating speakers?  The Garden Museum's first Garden Literary Festival (could it be the first ever Garden Literary Festival?) was a weekend not to be missed. http://www.gardenmuseum.org.uk With extraordinary generosity, Tom and Sue Stuart-Smith hosted the event in their family's garden at Serge Hill. http://www.tomstuartsmith.co.uk We were as inspired by their delicious planting as were by the variety of impressive speakers.

(copyright Liz Ware)
The weekend was a perfect reminder (as if we needed it) that people who work with nature tend to be an open-hearted, generous spirited bunch.  Many of the speakers have reached great heights in the gardening world but I didn't detect the slightest whiff of 'celebrity' in the air.  As Sue Stuart-Smith pointed out in her thought provoking contribution, 'Gardening for the Mind', those of us who work with nature are constantly reminded of the limits of our powers. Perhaps it helps to keep egos in check!



Childhood memories of gardens and gardening played an important part in the lives of many of the speakers. If gardening in childhood is a pre-requisite for speaking at future Garden Literary Festivals, then the Garden Museum would do well to look out for the children of Wicor Primary School in Hampshire. http://www.ngs.org.uk/gardens/gardenfinder/garden.aspx?id=29837

I visited Wicor Primary recently in preparation for an article.  I can't stop telling people about it.  It should be required visiting for every school and parent in the country. And perhaps for everyone else too! They've opened their grounds to visitors for the National Gardens Scheme for the first time this year.  You still have a chance to visit - this Sunday, 7th July.  Prepare to be impressed!

Thursday 6 June 2013

Garden visiting

If you're in London this weekend you won't be short of gardens to visit.  It's Open Garden Squares Weekend - an annual and much anticipated event, organised by London Parks and Gardens Trust. http://www.opensquares.org/ It couldn't happen without the help of the Trust's many wonderful volunteers.  It's been such a success in London that similar events are starting to appear elsewhere in the country - so look out for happenings in Bristol and Dublin too.

Yet another County Gardens Trust member, Tim Richardson, is the guiding light behind the very successful Chelsea Fringe.  This is the last weekend of the 2013 Fringe.  The forecast is looking good, so why not go along and give it your support? http://www.chelseafringe.com/

(copyright Liz Ware)
I did some garden visiting of my own last week.  Sadly, it was less of a pleasure than it should have been. Monasterium de Wijngaard, a 13th century Beguinage in Bruges, has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/855 The designation was intended to preserve this simple green space (and its gentle architecture) as a place of silence and reflection.  Unfortunately, it seems to have had the opposite effect.

I visited on a Sunday morning and watched (or perhaps that should be heard) hoards of tourist groups being led through its peaceful greenness.  There were plenty of signs asking people to be silent, but that just wasn't happening.



Large numbers of visitors aren't necessarily a bad thing. In fact, enjoying silence with a crowd of people can be a very powerful experience.  But our lack of ability to respect the spirit of a garden can be a real problem.  If you find yourself in Bruges, do go and have a look. It's a wonderful place, it just needs its visitors to show a little more respect. http://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2013/05/economist-explains-who-were-beguines

Looking forward to meeting lots of you in Lancashire later this month for the Lowther Castle Study Day. http://www.lowthercastle.org/   http://www.lancsgt.org.uk/events%20page.htm



Thursday 9 May 2013

Californian sunshine

(copyright Liz Ware)
No doubt you've heard the good news - English Heritage are funding the Historic Landscape Project for another two years.  Verena McCaig continues as Historic Landscape Project Officer but will be sharing the role with Linden Groves.  You probably already know Linden as Casework Manager for the Garden History Society (GHS).  Their shared, full-time post will allow the  project to extend right across England. They're looking forward to working with all the County Gardens Trusts.

There are many things that both the Association of Gardens Trusts (AGT) and the GHS do very well, but close to the top of the list must come their Study Days and Study Tours.  I've just spent two weeks on the GHS tour of California organised by Liz Goodfellow.

Liz organised an action packed itinerary for a (fortunately!) energetic bunch of landscape architects and garden historians.  As Charles Boot (Buckinghamshire GT) reminded us (when we showed signs of flagging) 'this is a Study Tour, not a holiday'!

(copyright Liz Ware)
Thanks to the generosity of the Californian landscape architects, directors, curators, garden owners, and guides who gave us their time, we finished the tour with our brains buzzing. It's only now, after some time for reflection, that we realise just how extraordinary the trip was.

An article on the Study Tour will appear in the GHS Autumn News, but here are just a few of a long list of personal (rather than academic) highlights:

- The desert garden at Huntingdon Botanic Garden  (a riot of colour and texture after such a long winter in the UK) http://www.huntington.org/huntingtonlibrary.aspx?id=494
- The lemon arbour at Lotusland http://www.lotusland.org/gardens/orchards
- The sense of space and light at the Getty Center http://www.getty.edu/visit/see_do/architecture.html
- Sunrise over the mountains during an early morning run to the beach at Santa Barbara
- Discovering Julia Morgan (why didn't I know about her before?!) http://www.landmarkscalifornia.org/julia-morgan-designed-buildings/
- A couple of free hours to walk on the empty beach at Cambria (seals, sea-otters, wild flowers, and tranquillity)
- The perfectly choreographed drive up to Hearst Castle (and the polar bear!)
- A seat on the 'right' side of the bus for the long drive along that spectacular (and fog-free) coastline
 - The Immigrant Workers garden at Cornerstone http://www.cornerstonesonoma.com/explore/projects/tribute-to-immigrants/
- Oakland Cathedral (and our driver, Alan, who suggested it)
- Watching students at Berkeley play Quidditch (running on a broomstick isn't quite as elegant as flying on one!)
- Peaceful time at the iconic (Thomas Church designed) Il Novillero-Donnell Garden with its delightful owners http://tclf.org/landscapes/donnell-garden
- Gertrude Jekyll's drawings at Berkeley Environmental Design Archives (a bit of a personal pilgrimage) http://www.ced.berkeley.edu/cedarchives/profiles/jekyll.htm

Monday 1 April 2013

Not such good news for parks!

Green and leafy = cool on a hot day.  We all know that it's true but now The Forestry Commission has produced the statistics to prove it.  Its recently published Research Note describes the extent to which trees and green infrastructure regulate urban air temperatures.  Apparently, when temperatures soar, London's tree canopy and green spaces can lower the air temperature by 2-8 degrees C.  The Forestry Commission has calculated that, during spells of hot weather, green spaces in London could be saving the lives of 16-22 people a day. So, that's even more evidence that green spaces are good and that we need more of them. Sad then to hear the news that GreenSpace, the organisation that has tirelessly promoted and protected our parks and green spaces, has had to go into administration.

(copyright Liz Ware)

If you travelled to the recent AGT Spring Business Meeting in Cowcross Street, perhaps you passed through Farringdon Station?  Did you realise that somewhere above your head was an ecology and biodiversity award-winning project?

When the station was surveyed in 2007 for biodiversity, just one single male black redstart was found to have a territory there.  Little surprise then that it was described as being of 'low ecological value'.  As part of the redevelopment on the site, the spacious new ticket hall has been designed to include a 'living roof'. It will provide a habitat for the kind of invertebrates that black redstarts find particularly appealing.

I've been experimenting with Twitter on the AGT's behalf for the last few months.  It's provided a quick and easy way to discover masses of enterprising garden projects and websites that I wouldn't otherwise have had the time to find. Have a look at The London Orchard Project http://thelondonorchardproject.org/ . It's working with Londoners to encourage the planting and harvesting of apple, pear, and plum trees. There's plenty of good advice about starting up your own project.  History is important too. A two-year project to rejuvenate old and neglected orchards is running across the capital.

I came across 'Judi the Gardener' via a tweet  http://judithegardener.co.uk/blog/2013/02/22/our-first-seed-sowing-workshop/ . She was looking for seeds for a project that involved the homeless in Ilford.  As I was buying seeds for myself that day, it was easy to pick up a few extra and put them in the post.  If it worked for Judi it could work for you.  Perhaps your Gardens Trust needs a bit of extra help with a project?  Think about signing up to Twitter and asking the generous and supportive gardening community of tweeters for some help.

Later this month, I'm escaping the long winter to join the Garden History Society on its study tour of Californian gardens.  We start at Huntington Botanic Garden and finish almost two weeks later at Berkeley Environmental Design Archives.  Time to start the background reading...

Tuesday 26 February 2013

Hope for our parks?

'Funding cuts are threatening our parks and green spaces'!  At last the message is being heard and exciting things are starting to happen.

Big Lottery Fund (BIG) has announced its decision to award £416,450 to the enterprising 'Love Parks' project being run by GreenSpace http://www.green-space.org.uk/ . The funding will provide the training and resources that a growing network of volunteer groups will need if they are to protect their local green spaces http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/global-content/press-releases/england/140213_eng_love-parks_volunteers-at-heart-of-parks .

One of the exciting things about BIG's announcement is that it quotes some of the research results that support its decision to support 'Love Parks'.  'NHS evidence shows that an estimated £2.1bn could be saved in healthcare costs if every household in the country had access to quality green space'. Well, who could argue with that? We just need it to be shouted from the rooftops as loudly as possible.
(copyright Liz Ware)

The project will be launched at the start of 'Love Parks Week 2013' so keep an eye open for announcements in the press.  This year it runs from 27 July - 4, August, the first week of the summer holidays.  Have a look at http://loveparksweek.org.uk/ for more information. Why not organise an event to run in your local park?  Perhaps one that promotes your park's heritage?  They need all the support they can get. 

More good news for parks comes from a campaign run jointly by Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and BIG.  Realising the dangers that threaten our parks, the two funds have joined together to create a campaign in which they take a more proactive role.  They've made over £100million available for public parks and cemeteries over the next three years.  The 'Parks for People' programme will help to get local people more involved in the management of their parks and will offer help and advice about long term park maintenance http://www.parksforpeople.co.uk/about/parks-for-people-programme.  If an historic feature in your park or cemetery is under threat, perhaps this is the project for you?

Grants from £100,000 to £5million are available for suitable projects.  It is very sad to hear that some local authorities are so short-staffed that they don't have time to submit applications. So, this is an SOS to members of the County Gardens Trusts.  If you can think of any way in which your Trust could help participate in training, assisting or helping to set up Friends Groups for public parks in your area please contact GreenSpace http://www.green-space.org.uk/ . 

The sun hasn't shown its face in this corner of Berkshire for the last two weeks, so no chance to snap a glorious sunrise in my local urban park. Here's a bit of delicious re-cycled plant colour instead!


Tuesday 22 January 2013

New approaches

Parks and Gardens UK's website has always been a good place to start research into a garden's history.  Now, thanks to a grant from The Bulldog Trust, it's even easier to use.  It's been updated and re-launched.  http://www.parksandgardens.org/ It's a valuable resource that will continue to grow as County Gardens Trust research volunteers upload even more information about historic designed landscapes.  If you are interested in becoming involved with the research have a look at http://www.parksandgardens.org/research-and-record

(copyright Liz Ware)
'Nature Deficit Disorder' could be a useful label for that irritable, not-quite-right feeling some of us have when we can't get outside for a day. It could also be an affliction from which a large proportion of the world's population is suffering.  It's a term used by Tony Juniper in his recently published book, 'What Has Nature Ever Done for Us?'  http://www.tonyjuniper.com/content/what-has-nature-ever-done-us This thought provoking read encourages us to re-consider our attitude both to economics and to nature.

Tony argues that, during the last two hundred years, we've lost touch with nature.  As a result, we are suffering, not just as individuals, but also on a global scale. Rather than continuing to plunder nature, we should recognise it as an asset and work with it.

(copyright Liz Ware)
The entire book is very stimulating, but the chapter entitled 'Natural Health Service' is of particular interest to those of us frustrated by the short-term thinking behind the cuts to our urban park services.  Tony neatly sums up the arguments for (and the research into) the health benefits of nature.  For anyone keen to know more, there's also a useful link on Tony's website to his primary research sources. http://tonyjuniper.com/content/chapter-10-natural-health-service

Another point Tony makes is that people are more likely to value nature if they are actively engaged with it.  The  AGT education representative, Emma Schofield, has been using her campaign 'Get out There' to ensure that we do just that.  Through Country Gardens Trust contacts, she's been put in touch with people wanting to develop gardening clubs in primary schools in areas as diverse as the Isle of Wight and the Orkney Isles. She's also offered advice on developing vegetable gardening allotment plots to secondary schools in Coventry, London, Kent, and Wiltshire, and on creating a dementia garden for the elderly in Durham.

In April 2012, I blogged about my visit to the garden at Emma's Lincolnshire school, Boston West Primary.  Great things continue to happen there.  During 2013 'The Hive - Centre for Learning Beyond the Classroom' will be built in the grounds. More news from Emma soon.

Keep warm.