Regional seminars offered for Opening All the Gates

Opening All the Gates – a legacy of the Gateway Gardens Trust - is a partnership project between the National Trust, the Historic Houses Association, the Royal Horticultural Society and the Association of Gardens Trusts. Supported by English Heritage, it aims to encourage access and new audiences for historic gardens and to ensure that the widest possible cross-section of the community is able to discover and enjoy these special places.

Historic gardens are an essential part of Britain’s heritage. Evidence shows that they play a vital part in the wellbeing of the nation, contributing to people’s physical and mental health, happiness and quality of life. They are inspiring places for learning, provide spaces for people to come together, enjoy relaxing environments and take important time out.

As an RHS ‘Recommended Garden’, Opening all the Gates would like to invite you to attend one of six seminars, to be hosted by the partner organisations at various locations across England between October 2010 and January 2011.

This is an opportunity to network with likeminded professionals working in your region. If you work in gardens and the historic environment you can expect:

• expert advice on how to engage with schools and community groups
• the development of ideas and partnerships that could see new audiences visiting your setting.

If you work in the wider community you can expect:

• expert advice on how to engage garden managers and owners in a way that will support your work.
• an opportunity to find out more about some of the exciting and innovative practice in the heritage sector.

These seminars are for everyone interested in widening access to historic gardens. They will explore what gardens can bring to communities and how involving people supports the gardens themselves.

The seminars will seek to identify new audiences, ideas for garden visits and links with contemporary agendas, such as volunteering, health and wellbeing, creative learning and the National Curriculum. Seminars will cover issues such as health and safety and funding opportunities.

These seminars are absolutely free. However, places are limited so please book your place as soon as possible by completing and returning the application form.

We hope to have the pleasure of seeing you at a seminar local to you.

Seminars:

East Midlands- 13 October 2010, Boughton House www.boughtonhouse.org.uk

North East- 11th November 2010, Gibside www.nationaltrust.org.uk/gibside  

South West- 26 November 2010, Saltram www.nationaltrust.org.uk/saltram  

East- 9th December 2010, Anglesey Abbey www.nationaltrust.org.uk/angleseyabbey  

West Midlands- 13th January 2011, Spetchley Gardens www.spetchleygardens.co.uk

Yorkshire and Humber- 27th January 2011, RHS Garden Harlow Carr www.rhs.org.uk/harlowcarr

Joining instructions will be distributed once your place is confirmed. All seminars will start with registration from 9:30 am and finish by 4:30 pm. For further information contact Adam Clarke, Project Manager 0116 2830363 ~