The UK’s historic parks, gardens and landscapes are valued for their beauty, diversity and historic significance. Millions of people visit them every year but many others feel unwelcome and unable to enjoy these special places. Improving access is one key to a wider understanding, valuing, caring and enjoyment of historic landscapes.
Marking the 2005 anniversary of the DDA, English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund have issued a new publication to offer owners and managers of historic parks, gardens and landscapes advice on improving access and reconciling access with conservation interests.
The publication was partly funded by Historic Scotland and the National Trust, the Countryside Agency and the Historic Houses Association advised on the development of the guidance.
The guidance promotes an inclusive approach to design and management of access, addressing the needs of all people, regardless of age, gender, background or disability. The publication looks at getting the balance between access and conservation and common problems and issues in parks and gardens that are barriers to access. It also includes sources of information on both improving access and conservation.
To download Easy Access to Historic Landscapes, please click on the PDF icon in the right hand column. The guidance is a companion volume to English Heritage’s Easy Access to Historic Buildings. There is also a case study available on English Heritage’s Access at Witley Court Project.
Further Information
English Heritage is committed to improving access to the historic environment, by:
• Helping other agencies and organisations to adopt creative and sensitive solutions in the adaptation and management of their properties, and
• Adopting best practice itself, in relation to the properties it manages, the services it provides, and the people it employs.
More information on how EH intend to improve access is set out in the English Heritage Access Policy and Accessibility Guide avaliable at http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.1694.
