Hilltop Gardening Club with a talk entitled “The Work of the Gloucestershire Gardens and Landscape Trust” by Sophie Piebenga

Sophie was a previous secretary for the Trust and was very keen to wet our interest in the history of our local gardens and landscapes.

The Trust runs lectures, guided tours, visits to gardens and houses and investigates historical landscaped gardens.

It sends newsletters three times a year to members.

The main purpose of the Trust is to research and record the histories of the gardens and landscapes of Gloucestershire.

The Trust regularly works with the planning department when building work is proposed on registered land.

The gardens and landscapes are registered in grades 1,11* and 11.

There are maps of many of our landscapes going back to the 18th century which can be compared to present day photographs.

Lypiatt Park (grade 11*) was remodelled in the 19th century and Nether Lypiatt Manor Park was also registered as a grade 11*.

Cirencester Park, designed by Capability Brown, with its ten rides, is registered as a grade 1.

Interesting maps and photographs of Woodchester Park (grade 11) were shown to us as previously the forest reached the edges of the lakes, but much clearing of the trees has been done to create the original landscaped view.

There are 56 registered gardens in the Gardens and Landscape Trust in Gloucestershire including Snowshill, Westonbirt School, Westonbirt Arboretum, Cotswold Farm and Barnsley House.

Sophie was thanked for a very enthusiastic and informative talk which made the members of Hilltop Gardening Club want to know more about our historical and modern gardens in the future.

Hilltop Gardening Club meets in the evening of the first Tuesday in the month at Eastcombe Village Hall.