More than 1,600 English parks and gardens are registered for their historic interest, meaning that they are collectively a finite resource and that each is very special in its own way. The result of centuries of work by both private individuals and public bodies, together they make a special contribution to our towns and countryside.
They are nevertheless fragile; without proper care, they can easily be damaged beyond repair or lost forever. In these challenging times we want to help their owners to find practical and affordable ways of safeguarding their future.
The Current Situation
It comes as no surprise that there has been little change in the overall percentage of sites at risk between 2010 and 2011. While positive progress to improve their condition has allowed two parks and gardens to be removed from the 'at risk' Register, another six have had to be added because of the problems they are now experiencing.
Altogether, 103 registered park and gardens are currently at risk compared to 99 in 2010.
The Challenge Ahead
It is only by thoroughly understanding the nature of the challenges facing individual parks and gardens that we are able to work out effective conservation solutions - those that on the one hand ensure their long-term survival and on the other are compatible with the operational requirements and budgets of their owners.
English Heritage wants to secure a long-term reduction in the number of registered parks and gardens at risk, but recognises that many will require considerable time to make a real difference.
We are also starting to look at cemeteries, a class of sites that are experiencing very particular problems of their own. As well as working with owners to find the best ways of ensuring the survival of these very special places, we are using Heritage at Risk to establish priorities for our own grants and guidance programmes. Other grant schemes, including Natural England's Environmental Stewardship programme, are also using Heritage at Risk to target support
