A People’s Arcadia: The Ian Hamilton Finlay Improvement Garden at Stockwood Park, Luton
Kate Harwood, Conservation and Planning Officer for Herts Gardens Trust
Sunday 24th January 2.30 pm
“In 1984, Luton Council commissioned Ian Hamilton Finlay of Little Sparta to design a garden at Stockwood Park. Finlay came up with six sculptural features set in a glade with strong links to Ovid, Greek Mythology and the English Landscape Garden. He designed it with the head gardener of Luton Council to be A People’s Arcadia, incorporating a sacred grove, many memento mori and several puns – all set in the echo of the 18th century landscape of the now demolished Stockwood House. It has recently been added to the Historic England Register at Grade II*. Talks are now underway to revitalize this garden.”
If you would like to join us, please contact Rosemary Jury (Bucks GT Chair & Events Planner) by Thursday 21st January, who will send you an invitation with the link for zoom. Contact: events@bucksgardenstrust.org.uk