Please click on link to get full copy of Spring 2025 Newsletter: BGT Spring 2025 Newsletter Final CB
Dear Members
As I write on yet another January day of anti-cyclonic gloom, we can be reassured that the days are getting longer, and spring is just around the corner. My events team have organised an amazing programme of visits for you to enjoy, so please book early to avoid disappointment.
I would also like to draw your attention to all the wonderful events that are organised by our umbrella organisation the Gardens Trust (GT). Many of these are open to non-members and members can buy tickets at a discount. While we are closely linked to the Gardens Trust who fully support our work, by offering training and advice on planning and other areas, the County Gardens Trusts (CGTs) are all independent and therefore are run slightly differently according to their local needs and membership demographic. The CGTs contribute a small amount to the GT each year according to the number of members on their books.
The GT is currently in the process of recruiting a new chairman/woman and the day-to-day running of the trust is being managed by the ten trustees ably led by Linden Groves, head of Operations and Strategy, and other members of staff, who are all part time. As well as running events the GT publishes an academic journal Garden History twice a year plus the GT News and monthly e-bulletins. We also highlight GT and other neighbouring CGT events on our website.
If you are not already a member you might like to consider becoming one and support them so that they can continue to support us! Of course, I don’t want to discourage you from being a member of the Buckinghamshire Gardens Trust because your support is much valued in order that we can continue to protect locally important gardens in our historic county: https://thegardenstrust.org/what-we-do/
Claire de Carle
Since writing this introduction there have been some government announcements:
10th March 2025: The government has announced its intention to make changes to the statutory consultee system, including a consultation into the impact of removing the statutory consultee role from the Gardens Trust, Sports England and the Theatres Trust. We do not currently know how the consultation will be framed or when it will start, but will keep you informed.
11th March 2025: The Garden Trust Council response: The Gardens Trust is dismayed to learn that the government intends to consider removing it as a statutory consultee within the English planning system.
We don’t recognise ourselves in the government’s characterisation of statutory consultees. We only rarely miss the 21-day response deadline (remarkable given that we work closely with local volunteers in forming our responses), and last year objected to less than 10% of our consultations, with the remainder of our responses being simply supportive advice.
We are passionate about the role that the UK’s world-famous historic parks and gardens can play in supporting positive economic growth and healthy cohesive societies, and eager to continue helping this in our role as statutory consultee. For the full response please link to the Gardens Trust website:
