HCC Historic Landscape Architect
Vice Pres HGT
Chairman Conservation Committee HGT
Chairman HGT
Regional Director
South East
EH
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”. They were concerned that only a few local authorities consulted them when a planning application was submitted that impacted upon one of these historic parks or gardens. They therefore decided to follow the example of the Dorset Gardens Trust and arranged a Presentation of how the Trust could help local authorities, followed by a Buffet Lunch, in the beautiful National Trust property of Mottisfont Abbey, near Romsey on the 11th October..
The resources available included the research data held by the Research and Recording Group of the Trust in the form of Gazetteers and more in-depth research of many sites held in the Hampshire Record of Historic Parks and Gardens. In addition the range of professional experience available through the Conservation Committee (two ex-County Planning Officers, one ex-local authority planner, one retired architect/planner and two landscape architects) was not being used by local authorities when preparing their core strategies and local plans for their Local Development Frameworks. Such joint working between local authorities and local voluntary bodies is being encouraged by the Government (Local Government White Paper, October 2006).
The event was supported by English Heritage (South East Region) and their Regional Director, Dr Andy Brown, who, after the introduction by June Parkinson (Chairman of HGT), gave the opening speech which emphasised the necessity of preserving our heritage (especially historic parks and gardens) and outlined changes proposed in the statutory designation of historic sites.
This was followed by an
illustrated talk by Gilly Drummond (Vice-President of HGT) on the contribution
that the Trust made to the restoration of the gardens of Tylney Hall, near
Tony Hurrell (Chairman of the Conservation Committee) and Janet Hurrell (Chairman of the Research and Recording Group) then gave a joint presentation of the resources available within these two groups for both development control and strategy/policy development. In reference was also made to the on-going work with a local authority to assist them in locating the boundaries of recorded historic parks and gardens and key views on their GIS mapping.
Councillor Roy Perry (Hampshire County Council) described the Authority’s concerns and activities in the conservation and preservation of the historic parks and gardens in the County and of the historic and on-going co-operation between the Trust’s members and the authority’s officers.
After a question and answer session, June Parkinson summed up and closed the Presentation. The attendees then enjoyed a buffet lunch in the Long Gallery where Trust members were able to further “lobby” councillors and officers. During this time we also heard an interesting talk on the National Trust’s plans for future improvements in the gardens of the Abbey.
At least 2 representatives (officers and members) from each of the 11 district and borough councils, the 2 unitary authorities, the New Forest National Park Authority and the County Council were invited. Each authority, except one, sent at least one representative and we had 3 representatives from three authorities. Each invitee who attended was provided with an 18 page booklet which explained the aims of the Presentation, the programme for the day, brief CVs of the speakers, a list of members of the Conservation Committee (and their geographical responsibilities and email addresses) and descriptions (with coloured photos) of 12 parks and gardens where HGT has helped the local authority and community groups with technical and financial assistance. Extra copies of this booklet (expanded to include a summary of the presentations) have since been sent to key officers and/or members who were unable to attend on the day.