The Management & Maintenance of Historic Parks, Gardens & Landscapes: The English Heritage Handbook.
Published by Frances Lincoln in 2007, this book edited by John Watkins and Tom Wright, is a reference manual on the management and maintenance of parks and gardens. The book is aimed at conservation and landscape professionals, land agents, designers, managers, gardeners, owners, students and tutors.
The handbook is divided into four sections.
‘Understanding and planning the historic landscape and garden’ covers the cultural evolution of the English garden, the conservation and management planning process, garden restoration, finance, legislation, staffing and opening a garden to paying visitors.
The second section ‘The living garden landscape’ examines the garden environment and issues that affect plant growth, the management of nature in historic parks and gardens, and the management of all vegetation types from veteran trees to ornamental ones, shrubs, climbers, herbaceous perennials, annuals, turf and meadows. A number of garden types are also discussed including water gardens, rock gardens, ferneries, parterres, knot gardens and topiary, kitchen gardens, glasshouses and container growing. A section on technical maintenance provides detail on weed control, the management of pests and diseases, and the selection of machinery.
There are 10 case studies. Detailed information has been generously provided by owners, managers and gardeners to provide snapshots of the issues and challenges of managing and maintaining these special gardens and landscapes.
The appendices in the final section provides reference tables on introduction dates, country of origin, and other notes on broadleaves and conifers; shrubs; herbaceous plants; ornamental grasses, rushes and sedges; ferns, aquatic plants; annual and biennial plants for garden and cool glasshouse display; historic fruit and vegetable cultivars (including harvesting and season notes); and plants for maritime conditions. Other tables provide reference notes on hedge maintenance; pests and diseases; and animal pests. A bibliography is provided for all topics.
John Watkins is English Heritage’s Head of Gardens & Landscapes and Tom Wright is a freelance garden and landscape consultant. Contributing authors include English Heritage’s head gardeners, landscape managers and advisors, and external experts.
The handbook is available from Frances Lincoln or other book sellers.
