The Association of Gardens Trusts

Caring for historic gardens and designed landscapes

The Association, a national charity, consists of 35 County Gardens Trusts from all over England, and is affiliated to the Welsh Historic Gardens Trust. Our focus is on promoting the enjoyment of gardens and parks to the general public. We learn about designed landscapes, engage in conservation, planning and garden research, and encourage gardens in schools.

Scroll down to find out about events near you and catch up on conservation news.

See County Gardens Trusts for contacts and to enquire about membership. Get involved! Find out more about garden heritage in your area.

What's on?

Upcoming Events for 2013:

Thursday 16 to Monday 20 May
Somerset Gardens Trust Tour to the Parks and Gardens of Isle de France - open to members of other CGTs. >Further details

> Application form

 

Saturday 18 May through to Saturday 7 September 2013
Buckinghamshire Gardens Trust Summer Visits
Kenilworth Castle, Lord Carrington's garden at the Manor House and St. Katharine's, South Bucks, Claremont Landscape Gardens, Stean Park Gardens. . > More details

Saturday 8 June 2013, 1.00pm -3.30pm
Visit to Ramsey Walled Gardens, Cambridgeshire, in memory of John Drake MBE, ‘Peace and Poems'. No fee. Donations to Ramsey Walled Gardens in memory of John Drake MBE. Drinks available, bring picnic lunch. For directions please see: www.ramseywalledgarden.org.
Please register with the AGT Co-ordinator before 1 June 2013, Email: co-ordinator@agt.org.uk or call 020 7251 2610.

Saturday 8 June and Sunday 9 June 2013
OPEN Garden Squares Weekend (London)

Wednesday 19 June 2013
AGT and Lancashire Gardens Trust, in association with the Garden History Society, Study Day at Lowther Castle. Sorry but all the places on this study day have now been booked, however if you would like to add your name to the waiting list please email the Co-ordinator at: gardenstrusts@agt.org.uk, thank you.
> Further details

Saturday 27 & Sunday 28 July 2013
Conference to celebrate the work of James Wyatt and Humphry Repton at Ashridge. Lectures and tours of the Grade I house and Grade II landscape focusing on James Wyatt, the finest architect of his time, and Humphry Repton who presented his Red Book for Ashridge with plans for the gardens to the 7th Earl of
Bridgewater exactly 200 years ago, just as Wyatt’s gothic masterpiece was nearing completion. One day and two day options available. > Further details

6-8 September 2013
AGT AGM & Annual Conference 'Eastern Promise - transforming London's Landscapes: from Abercrombie to the Olympics'. Hosted by the London Parks & Gardens Trust and based at Queen Mary's College, University of London, Mile End, London, E1 4NS > Further details and booking form
London Parks & Gardens Trust On-Line Booking

 

News

 

 

Cheshire Gardens Trust - Sharing the Heritage of Caldwell’s Nurseries
Cheshire Gardens Trust receives Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) support to preserve and share Cheshire's horticultural heritage. CGT, a voluntary organisation and registered charity, has received £9,800 towards a £14,000 project to record and share the visual and oral heritage of Caldwell's nurseries. >More details

 

Looking for somewhere to explore this Spring?
DEWSTOW GARDENS AND GROTTOES – THE SECRET IS OUT, WHISPER it! Word is spreading about the fascinating story which has been unfolding at Dewstow Gardens and Grottoes. It’s a truly magical place which is rapidly becoming one of the best and most popular tourist attractions in South Wales. Tucked away amidst some spectacular Monmouthshire countryside, Dewstow Gardens can now be viewed and enjoyed in all it’s glory. For more information visit: www.dewstowgardens.co.uk

 

AGT Newsletter No 27, Winter/Spring 2013 Eyecatcher Newsletter, edited by Liz Ware > Click here to read the latest Eyecatcher Newsletter

 

Open Garden Squares Weekend
Saturday 8 and Sunday 19 June
Open Garden Squares Weekend (OGSW) takes place in London this year, opening some 216 hidden and little-known gardens to the public on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 June. Gardens are located across 27 London boroughs and range from the historic and traditional to the new and experimental, including private gardens, roof gardens, community allotments, urban wildlife and ecology centres, as well as gardens belonging to historic buildings, institutions, restaurants, schools and shops. Open Garden Squares Weekend is the London Parks & Gardens Trust’s highest profile event, and seeks to increase knowledge and the appreciation of London’s green, urban and open space network. The Weekend is presented in association with The National Trust which is helping to make the city's hidden green spaces accessible to as many people as possible. > Further details and list of participating gardens.
NUMBER 10 DOWNING STREET GARDEN OPENS TO THE PUBLIC FOR OPEN GARDEN SQUARES WEEKEND - Saturday 8 June 2013 > Further details

 

CAPABILITY BROWN 300
What is happening? Read first e-newsletter
then email your support and ideas to adam.clarke@capabilitybrown.org to help HLF bid and to receive regular updates - and get involved!

 

 

RHS CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW
A CENTENARY CELEBRATION by BRENT ELLIOTT
Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May, Fully endorsed and supported by the RHS.
> Further details

 

This year, 2013, is the centenary of a landmark moment for England’s heritage. The Ancient Monuments Consolidation and Amendments Act of 1913 recognised for the first time that there are physical remains of the nation’s history which are so special that the state has a duty to protect them. For more information visit: heritage-centenary

 

PUBLIC MONUMENTS AND SCULPTURE ASSOCIATION - The Marsh Awards
The Marsh Award for Excellence in Public Sculpture
The Marsh Award for Excellence in Public Fountains
The Marsh Award for Excellence in Restoration
The awards seek to acknowledge and commend excellence, to increase awareness and discussion of public sculpture and fountains and to celebrate new work that demonstrates originality, aesthetic quality and sensitivity to its site. Closing date for nominations 30 April 2013. >Further details and nomination form.

 

 

Essex Gardens Trust tribute to Martin Wakelin

> Read Liz Ware's latest AGT blog

In celebration of their upcoming 30th Anniversary,
The English Gardening School is offering a unique scholarship opportunity for a complimentary place on our renowned Botanical Painting Diploma Course worth £4,950. >more

New Book Release:
Gardens in History: A Political Perspective
by Louise Wickham. > Further details

The Angel Cantata a novel by Jennifer Potter
with original artwork by Ffiona Lewis
Published by FULL CIRCLE EDITIONS on 7th March, priced £20.00 Inspired by a concert held during the Aldeburgh Music Festival on an American airbase in Suffolk, Jennifer Potter´s haunting new novel is a profound and moving examination of the ways in which complex human relations and the power of place can inspire the musical imagination. > Further details

Paxton’s Protégé
The Milner White Landscape Gardening Dynasty by J.P. Craddock. Limited edition of 250 copies. >Further details and order form

 

Dorset Gardens Trust Bursary Scheme:
To be awarded for research into any site or people connected with the history of designed landscapes and historic gardens in Dorset. Read on for further details.

 

AGT Annual Conference -read report - many thanks to Avon Gardens Trust, celebrating twenty-five years led by Ros Delaney and her team - a wonderful 'Polite Society' weekend - magnificent gardens in brilliant sunshine -
Start dreaming of next September's AGT Conference, East London.... 6th-8th September 2013 'Eastern Promise -transforming London's Landscapes: from Abercrombie to the Olympics'

'Your public parks need YOU! Every member of a county gardens trust, their families and friends and every local organisation you know can help to suppport this campaign for these precious places'...HORTICULTURAL WEEK seeks as many statements of support as possible from county gardens trusts and individuals for their campaign calling for an urgent parliamentary inquiry into urban parks - a response to the crisis now facing these precious assets across the UK following disproportionate cuts to local authority parks maintenance budgets. This crisis is being exacerbated by the lack of any government department, national body or civil servant function with a watching brief for urban parks.
Send a letter to your MP
Watch Video - Parks for People - the story of a community park HLF took a film crew to visit Myatt's Fields Park in Lambeth, now fully restored after receiving a grant of £1.52million from HLF in 2006. See the difference the Parks for People programme is having upon the people who live and work in the local community surrounding this beautifully restored Grade II registered Victorian park.

Call for Volunteers
The London Volunteer Research Group has started off 2013 with a number of new and exciting projects. Whether you are an experienced researcher, have attended a course and would like to put theory into practice, or would like to learn how to research a garden's history, then you would enjoy working with this vibrant and active group. > More details

 

John Drake MBE
> read a tribute to founder and former Chairman of Cambridgeshire Gardens Trust

 

The Pulham Legacy News Update
from Claude Hitching - > more details

 

2013 Exhibitions at Compton Verney
Curious Beasts: Animal Prints from the British Museum
5 October – 15 December
>more details

IMPORTANT -New advice concerning conservation and management of war memorials. The War Memorials Trust has now published its new landscaping leaflet in their series of guidance for war memorial projects.

 

New Garden History Society project to harness Conservation Management Plans for historic designed landscapes >more details

 

Kids in Museums runs an annual event called Takeover Day - this year on Friday 23rd November, a day when museums, galleries, historic homes and gardens invite young people in and give them a meaningful role for the day. Members wishing to take part, visit wqww.kidsinmuseums.org.uk/takeoverday to find downloadable resources and case studies. Advisor Jenie Macindoe, Takeover Day Manager, is keen to help with planning their event. No formal registration requirement just let them know so that your organisations is added to the l;st and to the role of honour on the website.

Help wanted: Veitch nursery catalogues Toby Musgrave is trying to find original copies of 19th and 20th century nursery catalogues from the Veitch nurseries: James Veitch & Son in London and Robert Veitch & Son in Exeter, as well as any family / business papers that have survived. To get in touch or find out more, visit  www.tobymusgrave.com

Congratulations to Cheshire Gardens Trust, for winning RHS Silver Medal at RHS Tatton Park Show at their first attempt at a show garden “Time and Tide - Caldwell’s and Canute” to raise awareness of the Caldwell’s Nurseries Research Project. The garden team was led by Tina Theis (admin), Jacquetta Menzies (design), Christine Wilcox-Baker (sculpture) and Ruth Brown (horticulturalist). >More
See Cheshire Gardens Trust at RHS Tatton Park Show!! featured on BBC 2 Wednesday 18th July! now on BBC i-player

New Trail Guide Publication: -
Sir Joseph Banks, Rooted in Lincolnshire

now on sale £14.95 at the Sir Joseph Banks Centre, Horncastle, Lincolnshire and at county bookshops shortly. Purchase on-line www.joseph-banks.org.uk

Plant Heritage's Threatened Plants Project – conserving old, rare and valuable cultivars > More details

Gardens Trust members please send in SNIPPETS of news, (i.e. short, interesting, amusing or odd items concerning gardens) preferably by email, putting SNIPPETS in the subject line, to co-ordinator@agt.org.uk