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.
Bridgeman rond-point restored in Tring Park
On 9 April 2014 the research team and guests enjoyed a great afternoon at Tring Park at the invitation of the Woodland Trust to celebrate the restoration of the Charles Bridgeman rond-point – ceremonially completed by the planting of the final tree by Lady Verulam. A...
Good News! Yule Mausoleum
Following the HGT request for designation at Hanstead House, Bricket Wood in 2013, the Yule Mausoleum in the garden was given a Grade II Listing. The sculpture is particularly fine and following an article in 2013, in Mausolus, the magazine of the Monuments and...
Beach Huts in Hitchin?
The last remaining Detached Gardens in Hertfordshire - which have been called Inland Beach Huts - are threatened by proposals from HCC for housing on them. This would be a disastrous loss of a unique piece of our garden heritage and HGT has already alerted...
Panshanger Park needs you!
Stop Tarmac Destroying Repton's Broadwater. Please Act Now. Humphry Repton advised the 5th Earl Cowper on the design of his new Panshanger Park in 1799. The tree-covered valley sides and the sinuous Broadwater that winds its way through the western end of today’s park...
Progress at Panshangar
Tarmac issued a statement in January 2017 stating that their ‘key aim is to ensure that we maintain and conserve the historic Repton landscape’. In 2016 the HGT instigated a campaign to save the Lower Broadwater - a key feature of the landscape designed by Humphry...