Working with Suffolk Gardens Trust, the team of passionate and hardworking volunteers from the Suffolk’s Unforgettable Gardens Story project have learnt new skills and contributed their time and expertise to research and record over 20 historic parks and gardens.
The result of this important work includes new additions to the Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest, through which the sites will be nationally designated and therefore given a better level of protection in the planning system. The intention is to also add research to the Historic Environment Record, helping support those conserving historic parks and gardens in Suffolk.
These brilliant volunteers deserve an award for being so willing to tackle new challenges and make such a significant contribution to the conservation of Suffolk’s historic parks and gardens for future generations The Gardens Trust is replicating the project in other areas of the country, using the knowledge and experience gathered from the Suffolk volunteers along the way.
The HERITAGE CHAMPIONS award was presented to Linda Robinson and Patience Shone, as representatives of all the volunteers, at a special event at Heveningham Hall on the 18 July 2024.
The Volunteer Researchers were also nominated for The Gardens Trust’s VOLUNTEER AWARD. The result was announced at The Gardens Trust’s Volunteer Celebration at Sheffield on the 15 July and unfortunately we did not win – however we were represented at the meeting and thanked for all the hard work we had put into the project.
And the project has, however, also been nominated for East Suffolk Council’s 2024 QUALITY OF PLACE AWARDS.