Conservation & Restoration

The need to conserve and restore historic gardens and designed landscapes in the UK began to be recognised in the late 20th century. The pioneering restoration of a few key iconic gardens during the 1970s and 1980s raised awareness and encouraged others to undertake similar projects. Restoration of public parks in recent years has helped to improve town and city centres throughout the United Kingdom.

Hestercombe	The first attempt by a local authority to restore authentically a historic garden. This 1970s project, carried out on a shoestring budget, tackled important practical issues, such as how closely to follow original planting plans when there would be insufficient resources to maintain them.		Painshill Park	Begun in 1981, this highly ambitious project aimed to save a site on the verge of becoming a 'lost' landscape. Archaeological investigation played a crucial role in establishing where and how features had been constructed originally.
Protecting designed landscapes in the U.K.	An article which explains how each of the national heritage agencies for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland offer protection to historic designed landscapes.		Brief case studies	Examples of conservation and restoration issues and how they have been resolved in specific case studies. If you have a case study that you would like to add, please contact us.