Sign up for a new volunteer training project examining Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPS) to research and record the designed landscapes within the areas around them.
The Gardens Trust has received funding from Historic England which will allow them to run a two-year volunteer training project on Gardens and NSIPs. Working with the six East of England County Gardens Trusts (Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire), but sharing the online learning nationally, with the other CGTs and beyond, volunteers will be trained to understand what NSIPs are; how to assess and engage with an NSIP application; and how to research, record and understand the significance of historic designed landscapes that may be affected by them.
By adding this research to the historic record, via platforms like Historic Environment Records and the National Heritage List for England, so that it is available to all, we can help developers, planners and statutory consultees like Historic England and the Gardens Trust to take into account the effect of NSIPs on historic parks, gardens and other designed landscapes, so that their most important aspects are protected.
Much of the training will be online, starting summer 2025: learning about NSIPs in May-June; and how to research potentially affected designed landscapes and record what remains on the ground in August. Key findings will then be worked into a travelling exhibition, which will move around public libraries in the East in summer 2026.
Get involved
All the learning will be suitable for absolute beginners and we’d love anyone with an interest to take part, whether you’re a volunteer, landscape owner, manager, or someone working in the sector.
- Sign up to volunteer on the project here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1BPZtkubXuvWOH7BmGfJtlQCKuApTofulnG8pZLr9KhE/edit