Research & Conservation

The Research Group and HGT Conservation Officer work closely together, pooling expertise to protect what survives of Hertfordshire’s unique heritage of parks and gardens.

Good historical research led to the re-discovery of an important feature of the landscape designed by Charles Bridgeman in Tring Park – lost in scrub and woodland. In partnership with The Woodland Trust and the HLF we restored his rond-point high on the chalk escarpment and opened up a fantastic view.

At Panshanger Park research in the Hertfordshire Archives led to a book of estate accounts detailing the excavation of the lake designed by Humphry Repton in 1799. Amongst the extraction costs was proof that Repton himself was on site supervising the landscaping – rare evidence that helped convince site-owner Tarmac of the importance of the Broadwater and led the company to change its excavation plans.

Prince Pickle and his German Gardens…and English Heiresses

Kate Harwood will introduce us to a German prince with a passion for gardening and his search for an English heiress Prince Pickle - or Fürst Hermann von Pückler-Muskau to give him his full title - was a Prussian nobleman whose great passion was gardening. He...

A Landscape History of Cassiobury presented by Laurie Elvin

This is our next talk which will be held at Woolmer Green Village Hall on Monday December 2nd at 2:30pm. Tickets are available from Eventbrite, the cost is £5.00 for Hertfordshire Gardens Trust members and £10.00 for non-members. More information and booking details...

Walled Garden Research Project

At our first meeting on August 13th at Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies (HALS) we decided to use the 2nd edition 25” OS maps (as they can be seen at HALS and the National Library of Scotland have them online), to create a list of the walled gardens in...

SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING 23rd AUGUST 2024 at 3:00PM

After our very fruitful discussions concerning the new Trust Constitution at our recent AGM held on 16th July 2024 at Greys Farm, we have sent out to all members a formal notice for a Special General Meeting to be held on 23rd August 2024 in the garden (weather...

Research Planning Meeting at HALS, Hertford

Tuesday August 13th 2024 10.00 am to 1.00 pm A meeting was held on March 16th to discuss the way forward for research by those of our members who were interested. It was decided that walled gardens would be an interesting and fruitful topic and would be one that could...

Volunteer Fair

Hertfordshire Gardens Trust members at the Volunteer Fair in Hitchin marketplace A number of HGT members manned a stall throughout the day at the Volunteer Fair in Hitchin, speaking to members of the public about our work and the volunteering opportunities we...

Hertfordshire Gardens Trust AGM 2024

Hertfordshire Gardens Trust AGM 2024

The Hertfordshire Gardens Trust AGM will be held at Greys Farm, Therfield on 16 July 2024 by kind invitation of Edward & Annie Darling. We are in for a treat – I am told the Coronation Meadow, which is in the top left hand corner of the photo, will be in full...

Research Group take on a new Project

At a meeting at Woolmer Green village hall the Research Group decided to make walled gardens the subject of their next project. In August there will be a meeting at HALS to look at old maps and resources that could be used. We will collate old research from earlier...

New Winter Talk Programme

The programme for the 23/24 winter season has been organised by the HGT events team.  This year the talks will be a combination of zoom and live talks at Woolmer Green Village Hall.  Tickets must be purchased through Eventbrite, the links are alongside each event....