CGT’s Conference at Crewe Hall – a resounding success!

Gardens and Tourism:

The Roles of Historic Landscape and Excellent Design
in Attracting Custom for Business and Pleasure

held at Crewe Hall on 4th October 2007

Run by the Cheshire Gardens Trust, this conference brought together owners and managers of large and historic gardens, designers and tourism professionals to discuss the roles of historic landscape and excellent design in attracting customers for business and pleasure. The motivation was to stimulate the demand for new projects and to find new ways of attracting visitors to gardens in view of Cheshire Year of Gardens 2008.

The first speaker was Ed Bennis, Head of Landscape MMU who gave a lively recap of the history of garden tourism and then Barrie Kelly from Visit Chester and Cheshire showed us the trends of garden visiting in Cheshire today, needless to say Tatton Park topped all the charts. The National Trust and English Heritage were represented by Mike Buffin NT Parks and Gardens Advisor (South) and Emma Carver Head of Interpretation at EH. Mike Buffin gave the current thinking at NT together with the problems of garden management arising from climate change. Emma Carver unveiled EH’s newest market research on garden visitors.

Two commercial projects were described in case studies: Michael Walker, Gardens’ Manager at Trentham described the rescue of this enormous garden and the role played by designers Tom Stuart Smith and Piet Oudolf. Sarah Callender-Beckett told a more personal story of the transformation of her family estate of Combermere Abbey from the doldrums of the 70s to the successful business it is today and the development of its Walled Garden Fruit Maze.

The afternoon focused on practical workshops. Pamela Johnson, vice-chair of the SGD ran a very lively workshop for potential clients and designers using role play to explore the difficulties and rewards of compiling a definitive client brief. Barbara Moth, CGT led an excellent session on making the most of volunteers – how to attract, manage and maintain them; and Visit Chester and Cheshire focused on marketing and promoting Cheshire’s Year of Gardens.

After a discussion Sula Rayska took us on a very informative trip round the minefield of grants and funding application. The day was ably chaired and summed-up by Gilly Drummond, President of the Association of Gardens Trusts.

For a more detailed account of the Conference – with photographs – please see our October 2007 Newsletter – Issue No.16

Conference Proceedings are available. Please contact Barbara Moth on 01606 46228 or barbara.moth@btinternet.com