Historic Parks and Gardens
Introduction
There are many historic parks and gardens in the District, for example Westonbirt and Sezincote. Historic Parks and Gardens contribute to the setting of historic and listed buildings, and can be valued as ‘works of art’ in their own right. They may have been designed by a well known designer or evolved over time. Alternatively they may be important for their horticultural interest or association with a notable person or event, and as a focus for community identity and sense of place. Historic parks and gardens in Cotswold District may be very old, for example Campden House dates from the early 17th Century, whereas Rosemay Verey’s garden at Barnsley House was created in the 20th century.
English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens
The most important historic parks and gardens are included on English Heritage’s Register of Parks and Gardens of special historic interest in England
The main purpose of this register is to help ensure that the features and qualities which make the landscapes of these parks and gardens of national importance are safeguarded during ongoing management or if any change is being considered which could affect them. There are currently nearly 1450 sites included on the Register for England, of which XX are in Gloucestershire. They are divided into three grades to give added guidance on their significance – Grade II, II* or I.
To find out if a park or garden is included on the English Heritage Register of Parks and gardens, follow the links below
- For Cotwold District
- For Gloucestershire
Information on the boundaries of all registered parks and gardens, as well as other rural and landscape designations can be obtained from the Magic web-site.
For detailed information and site boundary maps, contact English Heritage
General information on historic parks and gardens
An on-line resource dedicated to historic parks and gardens in the UK. The project is led by Parks and Gardens Data Services Limited (PGDS), a not-for-profit company set up through partnership between the Association of Gardens Trusts and the University of York. The project is supported by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund and in-kind contributions from volunteers and members of the Association of Gardens Trusts.
The HGF is a charitable organisation set up in 1995 for everyone interested in the world’s fascinating heritage of parks and gardens. The HGF campaigns for the protection and appreciation of historic parks and gardens.
The main aims of the Society are to promote the study, protection and conservation of historic parks, gardens and designed landscapes, and to advise on their restoration and to encourage the creation of new parks, gardens and designed landscapes. The Society is a registered charity.
GGLT is a registered charity that was founded in 1991 to identify, record and preserve the county's extraordinary array of gardens and landscapes, and to increase awareness of the county's landscape heritage from private gardens to large estates.
Hampshire County Council has produced a very useful and detailed leaflet on parks and gardens in Hampshire, which although not directly relevant to Gloucestershire provides sound information on types of historic gardens, care of parks and gardens etc.
The Woodland Trust and the Ancient Tree Forum have produced a very useful leaflet on the management of ancient trees in parks and gardens.
Visiting Historic Parks and Gardens
Many historic parks and gardens are open to the public and are well worth visiting. Some are open on a regular basis and others for special charity events etc. It should be noted that not all registered parks and gardens are open to the public.
For more information on gardens in Cotswold District which are open to the public
- Information provided by Cotswold District Council
- National Trust
- National Garden Scheme
- Gardens in Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds
Historic Parks and Gardens and Planning
The Government's National Planning Policy Framework includes registered Parks and Gardens as Heritage Assets and considers them to be a material consideration in the determination of planning applications. Registered Parks and Gardens are also covered by local plan policy - Policy 11.