Devon Gardens Trust seeks to promote and protect Devon’s designed landscape heritage – its parks, gardens and cemeteries of special historic interest - for future generations. Those designed landscapes may date back at least five hundred years whilst others have been created in the last fifty; they may be small, less than an acre, or comprise hundreds of acres; they may be associated with a famous owner, designer or horticulturist; they may be an important example of their time. Each landscape is unique and has a story to tell. We work with owners, managers and local authorities to ensure that those gardens, parks and cemeteries of special historic importance are recognised and conserved. To achieve this we
- undertake research and record the current status of designed landscapes
- comment on planning proposals affecting important designed landscapes
- support conservation projects, including by giving grants
- encourage and support education in horticulture and the historic designed landscape, including awarding bursaries and grants
- promote public awareness and understanding of designed landscapes
- organise talks, conferences, study days and visits for members and others
- publish articles and books
https://devongardenstrust.org.uk/
Devon Gardens Trust Northernhay Office, Exeter Community Centre, 17 St David's Hill, Exeter, Devon, EX4 3RG
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The history of designed landscapes in Devon can be traced back to early deer parks with references as early as one at Winkleigh in 1086. Typically of 100 to 200 acres, the protective enclosure of deer parks also included warrens for rabbits (coneys) and fishponds. In some cases the boundaries of some parks can still be seen. The survival of medieval gardens is rare, but there are references suggesting enclosed gardens (hortus conclusus) existed. Being far from the metropolis, Devon was little affected by the Italian influenced formal design style of the Tudor and Stuart period, the designed landscape continuing to favour enclosed areas including orchards and deer parks; likewise the late seventeenth century French and Dutch-inspired designs which largely required flat land for their effect - a topographical feature rather at a premium in Devon - were not replicated in the county to any great extent although some features were adapted to local conditions, as at Forde Abbey. The influence of the Grand Tour and a desire to reflect the landscape of ancient Rome was particularly evident in the early eighteenth century, Bicton and Castle Hill being the pre-eminent examples, both designed and developed by their owners; both too were also adapted with the development of the English landscape garden. Although 'Capability' Brown can only definitely be credited with the design at Ugbrooke Park and advice at Mamhead House, other fashionable designers worked in Devon, like Nathaniel Richmond at Saltram, Eggesford and possibly Escot, but the majority of landscape gardens throughout the county were developed by their owners with their head gardeners or stewards. Humphry Repton's two designs in Devon, at Luscombe and Endsleigh, very much maximise the Picturesque qualities of the landscapes and introduce more flowering plants around the house, a feature that was to become more prevalent through the nineteenth century.
