The Claremont Garden History Lecture series is being established as a forum for the discussion and promoting of garden history scholarship. Its goals include the presentation of the latest in academic research as well as the sharing of the private portion of the park and garden with the general public. The long term goal is to increase the public’s appreciation of designed landscapes and to better understand their original cultural context.

You can register for the open day and lecture at http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e2xp15fh9616d229

The Open Day will start at 1 p.m. with the grounds and mansion open to the public.

At 4:30 p.m. Prof. Mowl will present the inaugural lecture, followed by a question and answer session and book signing. Admission will be 10.00 GBP which includes access to the grounds, mansion and lecture.

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It would be surprising if heritage protection featured as a major issue in the impending General Election; but the outcome of that event has the potential to have a significant impact on the way in which the historic environment is managed in England for many years to come.

With cuts of up to 20% in funding for the arts being forecast by some commentators, it seems impossible that funding for the heritage sector will not face similar constraints. Such a changed environment will inevitably force us to reconsider what The Garden History Society, in its role as a statutory consultee does, and how it delivers its work. Meeting this challenge will require constructive thinking both on our part, and on the part of partner organisations with broadly similar objectives.

As has been previously reported, the draft Heritage Protection Bill (2008) has been dropped from this Government’s legislative programme. What is not yet clear is the extent to which an incoming Government of any political complexion would seek to implement its provisions. Implementation of at least those sections of the Bill which deal with the streamlining and simplification of the heritage protection system becomes all the more desirable in an economic climate which favours de-regulation in the cause of economic growth, and where there can be a perception that heritage protection can be a brake on investment and development. Precisely this area is already the subject of two Government reviews; one being undertaken for the Department for Business, Industry and Skills and the other by the Department for Communities and Local Government.

In order to bring some clarity to the positions adopted by the different political parties prior to the Election, and to remind them of the importance, not least the economic importance, of the heritage sector, the Heritage Alliance (formerly Heritage Link) will be meeting with the three key shadow heritage and planning spokesmen.

Government is now considering the responses received to its consultation on the draft PPS15 and accompanying Practice Guidance. It appears likely that the final PPS will be published in mid- to late March without a further round of public consultation. The new document will supersede PPG15 with immediate effect, but as yet the status of the Practice Guidance remains unclear. It seems likely that the Guidance will not, after all, take the form of a ‘living draft’, but will remain substantive for a period of two to three years before being revised. The PPS itself is unlikely to be revised for about five years.

In order to help local amenity societies and other interested parties to develop the ‘local lists’ created under the new Planning Statement, Heritage Alliance is planning training events; along with the Association of Gardens Trusts we are planning at least one similar event which will consider the specific issue of developing lists of locally significant designed landscapes.

We are very pleased that as a result of work commissioned last year, English Heritage has announced a significant revision of the grading of cemeteries included on the Register of Parks and Gardens. As well as upgrades to Grade I for major metropolitan cemeteries such as Kensal Green and Highgate, the revised grades also recognise the seminal influence of sites such as the 1820s St James’ Cemetery in Liverpool. More surprisingly, perhaps, two twentieth century commemorative landscapes, Golders Green Crematorium (with grounds designed in part by William Robinson), and the Stoke Poges Gardens of Remembrance in Buckinghamshire have also been raised to Grade I status, while Thomas Mawson’s 1920s Saffron Hill Cemetery, Leicester has risen to Grade II*.

Golders Green Crematorium, London – laid out with advice from William Robinson from 1901, with later elements by Edward White of Milner, White & Son (photo by Jonathan Lovie)

This comprehensive re-assessment of the significance of all registered cemeteries is very much to be welcomed, and has removed many inconsistencies in the Register’s previous designation of this landscape type. At the same time it is interesting, and also somewhat alarming, to note that Highgate Cemetery along with several other major London cemeteries, has been included on the At Risk Register.