Part of the Craft Skills for Garden Conservation, an Erasmus+ funded project.
Lawns in historic gardens are rarely seen as of cultural or historical value. In fact they can often harbour rich seedbanks valuable for biodiversity whilst expressing the more intangible heritage of the traditional craft skills required to maintain them. Both physical and cultural aspects will therefore be considered alongside the environmental imperative to try to counter climate change. This topic will present the history of lawns and meadows in historic gardens as well as different opportunities with these elements today. How to work with authenticity, biodiversity and social values connected to lawns and meadows in historic gardens will be discussed.
Webinar programme
On the 22nd February 2022 an all day webinar was held. The traditional native meadow as well as the modern non-native meadows was presented. Both the short trimmed lawn and the modern alternative lawns were discussed. This webinar strengthened the historical knowledge of the participants as well as showing the different alternatives for lawns in historic gardens today. The recording from the webinar is below.
Speakers:
Professor Maria Ignatieva, University of Western Australia.
PhD Eva Gustavsson, University of Gothenburg.
PhD Joakim Seiler, Gunnebo House and Gardens and University of Gothenburg.
Sue France, CEO The Green Estate Cic and Director, Pictorial Meadows Ltd.
David Hedges-Gower, Lawn consultant and chairman of the UK Lawn Association.
Meadow and horticultural consultant Jenny Nilsson.
Topics:
The main objective is to introduce the themes:
– Development of the lawn and meadow from medieval to modern times
– Function and cultural significance of lawns and meadows
– Maintenance methods: ancient and modern
– The development from meadow to fine lawn and back again and how to combine historical authenticity with modern sustainable alternatives.
– Historic lawn care in a modern environment