Garden conservation
Historic Landscapes Flood and Water Management Act Conference report, June 2011 >More details
> Modern Planning System to Conserve and Enhance the Historic landscape announced.
The British Elms
Richard Elleyne of the Daily Telegraph reports that botanist David Bellamy is leading an attempt to restore the English elm to the countryside, more than thirty years after the species was almost wiped out. Thousands of saplings taken from trees that survived Dutch elm disease in the late sixties and seventies will be planted by his charity in the hope of ensuring a new generation of disease-resistant elms across the country.
> See more
> The Great British Elm Experiment
Foundation degree
The Foundation Degree in Garden History and Heritage Horticulture delivered by Yeovil College, validated by the University of the West of England, Bristol. The course was the first of its kind, launched last year with the first intake of students having had a rewarding year. > See more
Hampshire Gardens Trust
Hampshire Gardens Trust decided to raise their profile amongst local authorities in the County area by advising them of the resources available within the Trust – “How the Trust can help you”. > See more (Archive item)
Heritage at risk - new pilot project
Lincolnshire Gardens Trust is supporting a new conservation venture: a pilot project working together with The Heritage Trust of Lincolnshire. > See more
Green Heritage site status
Green Heritage Site status is a new development under the umbrella of the Green Flag Award scheme, the national standard for quality parks and green spaces. Any site that is applying for a Green Flag Award can also apply to be a Green Heritage Site. > See more (PDF)
Guidance for tempory structures
Guidance prepared by English Heritage primarily for landowners and local authorities on how to deal with the approval for and construction of temporary structures for events being held in historic places.
> Response to a consultation document produced by English Heritage
> AGT response to EH draft guidance on temporary structures for events
CABE
CABE has launched the position statement http://www.cabe.org.uk/files/why-we-must-map-green-infrastructure.pdf and an associated briefing note entitled 'The Green Information Gap http://www.cabe.org.uk/publications/the-green-information-gap
Lament for gardens lost
No digging for potatoes, no stringing of the beans,
No more hoeing between the rows of winter greens.
Vegetable gardening today has lost its peaceful appeal
As many other pursuits, our precious time try to steal.
The gardens those past generations lovingly did tend,
Now find their vegetable growing days are coming to an end,
As gardeners find bricks and mortar are better crops to sow
The produce quickly helping their bank balances to grow.
Allotments that in the past helped feed the nation
Are disappearing under urban regeneration
Replaced by densely built houses, lacking spaces green
Bringing for the planners, problems as yet unseen.
Lawns for block-paving are being changed
The bricks into patterns skilfully arranged.
Little thought being given to heavy down-pours of rain
Or into where the excess water is going to drain.
What is the future for this once green and pleasant land?
Will houses and gardens ever again stand hand in hand?
Or will the concrete and brick jungles continue to grow?
Leaving no-where for our children, their vegetable seeds to sow.
Geoffrey W. Brown
Did you know?
> BuzzWorks (PDF) is run by volunteer beekeepers and gardeners to increase public awareness of the importance of bees to the environment and how to help them thrive.
> English Heritage produces guidance and policy on all aspects of managing the historic environment.
It is most easily accessible through www.helm.org.uk
> Encourage your local authority to save gardens from unnecessary development
> Government guidance to planning authorities on garden grabbing
Reports and information
> Historic Landscapes project - Conservation through Partnership
> AGT Conservation Group Report February 2011 including re Localism Bill
> Enabling development and the conservation of heritage assets - Practical Guide to Assessment
> Read 'Heritage White Paper - Heritage protection for the 21st century'
Quote from Zac Goldsmith
"Gardens currently have the status of neglected industrial wasteland. Once these lands are lost they are gone forever....In every neighbourhood the issue of protecting green spaces is becoming a political issue. We must reverse the classification of gardens as 'brownfield sites', decentralise planning so that local authorities can make the final decision.."
Zac Goldsmith, Ambassador of the National Gardens Scheme, quoted in The English Garden, January 2010
