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Devon Gardens Trust actively encourages Conservation.
The Trust has a part-time Conservation Officer, Malcolm West, who advises and supports garden owners and the Local Authorities on planning and other issues that affect our historic gardens. A local register of historic gardens has been developed. Malcolm also works for the Garden History Society, being consulted on any planning issue affecting gardens in the south-west on the English Heritage Register.
Members can take part in practical garden recording, including public parks. Over 200 sites are already covered. These reports form part of the Trust's archive that also includes garden details extracted from the exceptional collection of sale catalogues in the Devon Record Office (link) and indices to collections of illustrations of our historic gardens. All the illustrations on this website can be found in our archive and many more are included in our publications. Research into particular aspects of historical garden development is undertaken by some of our members e.g. bath houses, 19C Devon Gardeners.
As well as offering advice and support to owners, the Trust has carried out practical projects e.g. the formal garden at Langdon Court, near Wembury (presumed late 17th century), the Grade 1 registered Repton garden at Endsleigh, near Tavistock. With the help of the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) (www.btcv.org.uk), the citrus wall was uncovered at Combe Royal, near Kingsbridge. Grants have been made to specific projects e.g. the gazebo at RHS Rosemoor (in memory of the Handy brothers), the garden at 21, The Mint, Exeter (restored by the Exeter Historic Buildings Trust).
The Conservation Committee would welcome comments, enquiries or suggestions about any of our historic gardens, particularly if they are under threat in any way
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