Gardens and designed landscapes contribute to our culture, enrich the texture and pattern of our landscapes and form a unique record of social, cultural and economic change through time. They exemplify unique artistic talent, provide the setting of buildings and monuments, offer rich and varied habitats for nature conservation and can form critical repositories of rare or champion trees, shrubs and plant material.
As a source of enjoyment, relaxation and learning, and a valuable network of green spaces, our gardens and designed landscapes contribute to the well-being of local communities and have a big role to play in our tourism industry. They offer a superb educational resource in helping us to understand our distinctive built and landscape heritage and the repeating cycles of nature. Meanwhile, private historic estates often remain working landscapes, providing opportunities for employment and contributing to our economy.