The Management of Historic Gardens

Visits to historic parks and gardens are increasing as the public's interest in both green space and 'the heritage' develops. The result is a crisis in historic gardens as these fragile environments try and balance the level of visitors, escalating maintenance costs and the strong lobby from the purists, advocating the use only of traditional planting techniques and original/historic seed varieties. Recent changes in conservation legislation are moving towards a system of statutory protections. What is required now is practical guidance and information, new management techniques, costs, health and safety issues, plant choice for easy maintenance. This book poses alternatives to the traditional methods of management which can preserve the best of our historic garden heritage and yet make it available to the interested public.