News from Other Gardens Trusts

HESTERCOMBE GARDENS TRUST

Following extensive discussions with Somerset County Council the Hestercombe Gardens Trust is delighted to reveal that it will be taking over the imposing Hestercombe House, the centre piece of the estate, under licence in the early summer and plans are afoot to open it to the public and turn it into a national Centre for Landscape Studies.

Whilst the surrounding gardens and land had been secured for the Trust through a system of long term tenancies from a range of landowners the house has remained under the direct ownership of the Council where it has been used as office space and as the HQ for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service. Securing the house is a pivotal moment in the history of Hestercombe, says as Chief Executive Philip White:

‘Being able to re-unite Hestercombe House with its historic landscape for the first time in sixty years, is a hugely exciting prospect and we are delighted that Somerset County Council has been able to offer us this exciting arrangement which will enable us to take over the house under licence in the early summer. It will consolidate and reinforce Hestercombe nationally and internationally particularly with the proposed Centre for Landscape Studies creating a world class centre of excellence.’

Once funding is secured, the Trust hopes to re-furbish and re-roof the house and open it (free to Somerset residents for the first two years) to showcase it’s Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian history. It also plans to develop a national Centre for Landscape Studies hosting seminars, conferences, providing a research resource for the public, housing the Hestercombe archive and an archive for thousands of conservation management plans currently held by organisations such as the Heritage Lottery Fund and Natural England. The council are pleased to have orchestrated the handover of the house as Cllr Huxtable explains:

“This is great news for the council, great news for Somerset residents and great news for the Trust. The building needs improving and investment – money we just do not have in these tight financial times. The Trust has a bold plan to carry out improvements. It will be great to see part of our Somerset heritage fully restored and thriving once again. We wish success to all concerned with Hestercombe’s future.”

Just as the restored gardens at Hestercombe exhibit three periods of gardening history; the eighteenth century landscape garden, the nineteenth century Victorian shrubbery and terrace and the twentieth century formal Edwardian garden, so indeed does the house and through the proposed acquisition both house and garden will be reunited each reflecting the others remarkable development over time. (14 February 2012)

AGT EYECATCHER
The Association of Gardens Trusts is the national charity representing 36 County Gardens Trusts (CGTs) in the care and conservation of the historic designed landscape.
To download our latest newsletter please click on the following link: AGT Eyecatcher Newsletter Winter-Spring 2012

CAPABILITY BROWN TERCENTENARY YEAR 2016
Start Brownian Thinking for 2016!

2016 will see widespread celebrations of the birth of the world – renowned landscape architect ‘Capability’ Brown. His Tercentenary presents a marvellous opportunity for us all to engage more people countrywide in the legacy of Brown’s designs, by learning to read the landscape and enjoy his ‘grammar’ in their local historic parks. The first meeting of interested parties was held on 22^nd November at the Garden Museum. Steffie Shields represented AGT, others included representatives of English Heritage, National Trust, Historic Houses Association, the Garden History Society, Garden Museum, Landscape Design Trust, Landscape Institute, ICOMOS, Tate Britain, Financial Times, Visit England and Visit Britain.

Would your County Gardens Trust like to start thinking about whether, and how, you would like to participate in 2016?

AGT will of course keep you informed about exciting developments, but we would in this first instance welcome your thoughts and bold creative ideas as soon as possible. These might include early discussions with the owners of accessible Brown landscapes in your county, the possibility of talks, study days, trails ‘walking the ground’, garden party events, sponsored tree-planting and perhaps working on an exhibition with your local museum or gallery. See www.parksandgardens.ac.uk for a list of sites.