Historic Parks & Gardens

 The English are, and always have been, a nation of gardeners. This love of working the soil and sculpting the landscape has resulted in the many diverse historic parks and gardens surviving today. These range from town gardens and public parks to the great country estates. Reflecting the styles and tastes of past generations, from Medieval knot gardens and deer parks to sweeping 18^th-century landscaped gardens, Victorian exotica and post-war examples, these parks and gardens traverse the centuries. They are all important and much treasured parts of our heritage.

English Heritage manages a number of historic parks and gardens. Most other historic parks and gardens are either privately owned or in trust, and many of these are open to the public. In addition, local authorities are responsible for nearly all the public parks in our towns and cities. We:

• Autumn at Brodsworth Hall Give advice through our landscape architects on the restoration and care of historic landscapes
• Comment on planning applications affecting sites of outstanding national interest (Grade I and II* Registered sites)
• Compile the Register of Parks and Gardens of special historic interest in England
• Provide grant aid for restoration projects of Grade I and II* sites and the London Squares Campaign, and advise on the Heritage Lottery Fund and other grants like the Countryside Stewardship Schemes
• Care for our own historic gardens and landscapes