Surprising and brilliant topiary choice at #HeverCastle, providing a fantastic insight into the undercarriage of its greener and more traditional neighbours #topiary #horticulture #gardens #kent

Very much looking forward to hearing Kate Felus on this little known garden at #Salisbury Cathedral. It's tonight, in London and there are still tix... come! georgiangroup.org.uk/event-direct...

I've been quiet here recently - preoccupied by the UK government's proposal to remove statutory consultee role from the Gardens Trust, the only national organisation with a remit to care for our unique historic parks and gardens. Do please read and share: www.express.co.uk/news/uk/2056...

👉🏼 C20 JOB ALERT: Want to help shape the future of heritage?We're recruiting a new Head of Casework to join our high profile team. This is a crucial role, and one requiring a high degree of skill, knowledge and integrity. More info: c20society.org.uk/work-with-us Application deadline: Mon 7 April.

The government is proposing to remove the Gardens Trust's essential role as a statutory consultee in the English planning system. Get up to speed and show your support at our timely conference, online or in person. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/london-con...

All 3 changes to the statutory consultees are of concern. The benefits of historic parks and gardens/the Gardens Trust are outlined here: bit.ly/3FjRvx8. Also of concern are the lack of coherence of (and justification for) the wider proposals, and what all this signals for the future of planning.

Shocking move by the government to remove statutory consultee status from sole organisation looking at UK's world-envied heritage of parks and gardens. We're a tiny charity with brilliant volunteers providing this service to the nation - do show your support. thegardenstrust.org/the-gardens-...

For #internationalwomensday, a couple of my favourite Shirley Baker photos of girls playing -

Fantastic discussions at Heritage Day today, filled with talk of passion, determination and collaboration, interspersed with the Tower of London in sunshine. Huge thanks to @heritagealliance.bsky.social @heritagelizzie.bsky.social @carolelsouter.bsky.social @delphinejb.bsky.social for hosting

This is Winston Churchill visiting the White House during World War II. Funny how he isn’t wearing a suit either. Almost like he was a wartime leader defending his country from being slaughtered and wiped out by an authoritarian aggressor.

Inside the Victorian Glasshouse. A #monochrome #photograph of the interior of a Victorian greenhouse taken on a sunny day at #Errdig Hall, North Wales. #AlphabetChallenge #WeekIforInside #gardens #greenhouses #PhotoOfTheDay

Thanks for all the recent follows! Apologies my posts have been scarce recently, but here's what you need to know... I really love parks and gardens and am on a mission to share at every opportunity. Let me know if you feel the same!

This looks like it could be a really cool research job working with Silvio Caputo (who's great) on green space, mental health and urban gardens/ag - Research Associate at University of Kent www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DLV078/r...

Learn more about Octavia Hill and her work on 5 March in our Online Winter Lecture series. Professor William Whyte's lecture is titled ‘Hang drawing!! I must go and help people’: Octavia Hill, John Ruskin, and Victorian Society. Read more and book: bit.ly/4gL9iuk #heritage

Excited to be kicking off the Gardens Trust's Places to Play series on 12th February, doing a skip through the history of children's outdoor play. Tickets are a snip at £8 - do join us! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/places-to-...

Here's #ElderPark in #Glasgow, as part of my occasional series of people enjoying historic parks and gardens. Thousands of locals celebrated in the streets when it opened in 1885. I love the small girl at the back, standing firmly in the pond! friendsofelderpark.wordpress.com/about-elder-...

Heritage Fund Scotland is looking for a new Chair who will also be a trustee of the UK Board. Critical role for nature and cultural heritage investment in Scotland apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk/roles/8102

Two weeks into 2025 and we're keeping to our January #resolution to maintain strong glutes in preparation for the #gardengames skipping season. How are you getting on? 😇👊🌳🌻 #northlondon

Polishing up my Giggles in the Garden talk ready for the Gardens Trust Zoom event on 12th Feb. It'll be almost as fun as a homemade seesaw on a sunny day - do come! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/places-to-...

Beautiful freezing foggy day yesterday at The Walks in #KingsLynn, #Norfolk. This 18th century public promenade space is still used and loved every day by the local community as a #publicpark for fresh air, exercise and coming together. www.west-norfolk.gov.uk/info/20067/p...

@radicalteacher.bsky.social @pester.bsky.social and anyone who wants to work with print and play boardgame prototypes for history classes 🗃️: Here's my prototype page. #3, Rhetoric and Revolution, the French Rev game I mentioned, is up on this page. gamingthepast.net/tabletop/jer...

■ The Bülbül (Nightingale) Mansion in the Tavuk (Chicken) Forest in Edirne, 19th Century #history

We're offering a PhD place on Rewilding! This PhD will study the wilder grazing at Purbeck Heaths ‘Super National Nature Reserve’, which is shifting towards the restoration of natural processes to create a more dynamic, complex landscape www.findaphd.com/phds/project...

Banish the January blues! Here are the top 4 #traditionalgames we’re looking forward to later this year: 1. Egg & Spoon at Easter picnics 2. Sack Races at Sports Days 3. Skittles at Summer Garden Parties 4. Hoop rolling at Festivals See you there - book via hahahopscotch.co.uk ! 🤩🥳👌🌼🌳

■ People Drinking Coffee and Chatting in a Coffee House by the River in Damascus (Syria), 1899 #history #damascus #syria

Finally got to visit Stoke Park, around the yellow fairytale building on the hill overlooking the M32 in #Bristol. Boy, what a fantastic community resource www.bristol.gov.uk/residents/mu...

Don't forget to apply to be the new Chair of Trustees at the Gardens Trust... I'm very much looking forward to working with you!

Historic England has announced the number of designations made in 2024 (bit.ly/3P1HgPy), including *11* newly-registered parks and gardens (compared to just 5 in 2023). 🥳 In addition, 2 existing Register entries have been amended.

Glorious Christmassy visit to Tyntesfield near Bristol. Apparently there were 2999 other visitors too - fabulous to see a historic garden so loved

The revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) has been published, setting out the UK Government's planning policies for England and how these are expected to be applied: www.gov.uk/government/p... #PlanningReform #NPPF

Following up on my good intention to share my postcards of people in historic parks and gardens, here is one of my faves. I'm a sucker for urban urchins, so here they are in the early 20th century fishing for 'tiddlers' in Kensington Gardens

England’s new towns must be walkable and green, say campaigners

Interested in the historic environment? Interested in planning? Then, Historic England's Planning Bulletin might just scratch your itch. November edition is out now. historicengland.org.uk/advice/plann...

The Gardens Trust is looking for a new Chair of Trustees. Could it be you? I hope so! Come and work with me at this super charity - small, ambitious, and on a mission for historic parks and gardens. Deadline 6th Jan 2025 - do let me know if you'd like to chat. thegardenstrust.org/could-you-be...

An interesting way to help people visualize what a ruin used to be.

Job alert! Our members Wentworth Woodhouse are looking to recruit a Digital Lead. If you have a proven track-record of strategy development and in the creation of digital content, they'd love to hear from you. Find out more: heritagetrustnetwork.org.uk/jobs/ #HeritageJobs #DigitalJobs

Good news!

Small grants for local history.🥳

A Short History of Flowers: The stories that make our gardens.💐 With beautiful botanical illustrations by Sarah Jane Humphrey which brought my words to life🤗 Now available in all good bookshops near and far. #history #flowers #gardens #people #stories

Any budding ‘Woodland History Detectives’ on here might like this online talk I’m giving for the fab D&G Woodlands organisation on Tues 26th Nov. More info and booking link below (free event) 🌳💚 fienta.com/woodland-his...

We often highlight how swings mean a lot to teenage girls, and are a hit with most people of all ages and backgrounds. But they are mainly only located in playground areas assigned to smaller children. It’d be great to have more swings that encourage people to get outside, socialise and have fun.

This week’s blog post (bit.ly/3OmoUIG) looks at the wonder of ha-has, including their origins, purpose, form, variety, and maintenance. With bonus reference to rhinos.

Super-interesting and open-minded article on the future of the country house, although I would have liked to see more on country house landscapes other than as setting for the building.

More than 7,000 people have signed a petition to protect the park after Middlesbrough Council announced its draft local plan, which could see the steel sculptures removed. ✍🏼 www.change.org/p/preserve-t...

Fantastic couple of days at the National Botanic Garden of Wales. Its iconic Foster +Partners glasshouse is a 21st century jewel, whilst the 18th century Middleton Hall landscape was simply magical in the winter light. #Wales #NationalBotanicGardenofWales

UPDATE: Disappointing news that C20’s application to list three site-specific dinosaur play sculptures at Teessaurus Park in Middlesbrough, has been rejected by Historic England. Designed by Geneviève Glatt in 1977-79, they represent a rare major 20th.C public-art commission for a female artist.

The 650 year-old Hundred Guinea Oak at NT The Vyne in Hampshire. Saved from being made into ships for the Battle of Trafalgar by owner William John Chute. #NationalTrust

Thought I might share my postcard collection of people in historic parks and gardens, if there's interest...? This is of children examining the fountain at #LeazesPark, #Newcastle, opened 1873. I think the tiny signs are Keep off the Grass, and love the eagle-eyed bird keeping watch! #parks

The Disability Action Research Kollective (DARK) is a disabled-led group working to make disability perspectives, history, and research more accessible to a general audience. We are always looking for disabled (and non-disabled) volunteers to help write. Please get in touch to join us in the DARK.