Despite their popularity, the historic parks and gardens that we love are easily lost, as they are vulnerable to decay, development, and a lack of understanding. The Gardens Trust is a statutory consultee in the planning system and every year receives some 1500 planning applications that may affect historic parks and gardens, and this figure is expected to rise. To fulfil this demanding role, the GT relies on the volunteer manpower and localised knowledge of the County Gardens Trusts to make comments on the planning applications in their areas.

Margie Hoffnung, Conservation Officer at the Gardens Trust, will show us, step-by-step, how to:

• assess the impact of a proposed development or change on a historic park or garden,
• use a variety of resouces to develop a recommendation to the local planning authority, and
• frame this in an authoritative and persuasive planning comment letter, to help influence a planning decision affecting an historic designed landscape.

The event is aimed at County Gardens Trust volunteers, but all those with an interest in the conservation of historic designed landscapes are welcome.

A two hour event, including short break.