Gardening in a changing climate
Gardens facing the challenge
English Heritage
Relaxing the belt of conservation
English Heritage (EH) looks after some of the country’s most famous ancient monuments, including Stonehenge. But although its estate is smaller than the National Trust, it includes famous gardens such as those at Osborne House, Kenwood House and Walmer Castle.
‘At our gardens the big drive has been to reduce the amount of waste being moved off site,’ says Alan Cathersides, EH’s Senior Landscape Manager. ‘At Osborne, for example, nothing goes off site that can be composted, and that saves energy twice: by not having to buy-in soil conditioners and by not having to transport waste to dump it.’
Alan is responsible for 2,600ha (6,422 acres) - though 1,600ha (3,952 acres) of that is a single site on Dartmoor - much of it covered by grass. ‘We’ve made a huge reduction in mowing; but what we’ve done for wildlife has also helped us reduce emissions.’
Small plants are being allowed to creep back over the walls of English Heritage’s ruins. ‘As long as plants are not damaging the fabric they are allowed to grow - it softens the landscape and we’re using less herbicide,’ he says. A ‘soft capping’ of turf and drought-tolerant plants actually protects old stone walls better than the concrete capping traditionally used. ‘Plants act like a thermal blanket,’ says Alan. ‘And they are better than concrete at stopping water getting into the core of a wall.’