This weekend event will explore the pastime of garden visiting through the centuries, focusing on the experiences of visitors in historic gardens then, now, and in the future.
The event brings together academic researchers and professionals from across the heritage sector to reflect on the enduring appeal of visiting gardens, and the challenges and opportunities presented by opening historic gardens to the public.
The act of visiting gardens has long shaped how gardens and designed landscapes are designed, maintained, and understood. The event will examine how historic visitors experienced gardens and engaged with them, and how they recorded their impressions and experiences. We will consider the legacy that historic garden visitors have left us as an invaluable record for the conservation, restoration and preservation of historic gardens now and in the future.
Speakers will consider the pressures that modern visitor expectations and environmental concerns place on fragile historic sites, as well as the many benefits that public access brings—from education and enjoyment to conservation funding and community engagement, and models for the future.
The weekend will include a visit to a remarkable, historically significant garden that has welcomed visitors for centuries and continues to do so on its own terms. It is an essential event for anyone interested in historic landscapes, garden history, heritage management, and the cultural life of gardens through time.
Please note: this event will close to enrolments at 23:59 BST on 26 May 2026.