Designed landscapes

Designed landscapes captures a range of areas from private gardens and country parks to golf courses and cemeteries. The term is used to describe ornamental and recreational landscapes which are meticulously planned to be aesthetically pleasing. Many areas of the National Park are historically designed landscapes which enhanced the areas natural beauty through thoughtful planting of woodland or the alteration of bodies of water.

As defined in the Historic Landscape Characterisation of the Lake District National Park, our designed landscapes generally fall into two categories: modern recreation and historic ornamental parkland. Modern recreational areas cover 674 hectares of the National Park and comprise of urban parks and cemeteries, golf course, camp sites and caravan parks. Historic ornamental parkland covers the majority of designed landscapes with 2110 hectares of 18th and 19th century landscapes designed by wealthy landowners to enhance the natural beauty of their estates.

Historic designed landscapes are crucial to the cultural tapestry of the Lake District National Park and World Heritage Site. As well as holding aesthetic and modern recreational value, they also contribute to:

• the setting and character of historically significant buildings
• the story of the human development of land use in history
• a landscapes character and sense of place
• community pride and identity
• landscape projects for nature recovery or regeneration

Historic designed landscapes often have subtle features in the landscape which leaves them at risk of neglect or decay leading to the gradual loss of character or through insensitive development. Therefore, it is vital that we ensure historic designed landscapes are protected through:

• Historic England Register of Parks and Gardens which requires that Historic England are consulted on all planning applications to Grade I or II* parks and gardens and The Gardens Trust is consulted on all planning applications to listed parks and gardens.
• The Lake District National Park Authority has a number of policies and plans, including the Local Plan, the Design Code and the Historic Environment Strategy that ensure that any development in or around recognised historic designed landscapes are carefully considered and sensitively implemented and the character of the landscape is managed and maintained.
• Government guidance which includes statutory rules on consultation, planning and management of forestry operations and ensures their consideration of the historic environment including parks and gardens.
• The Local List which provides sites or landscapes that do not qualify for listing to be protected through addition. Sites and landscape on the Local List become a material consideration in planning processes with specific reference to their historical, archaeological or community value.
• Individual landowners who understand and acknowledge the value of the designed landscape and recognise the features on their own land which contribute to its overall character. Through this understanding and acknowledgement, historic designed landscape features can be managed through estate plans, woodland management plans or conservation management plans.

Created in 1984, Historic England’s ‘Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England‘ includes over 1700 designed landscapes. The purpose of the Register is to celebrate designed landscapes and encourage appropriate protection. Although not protected by a separate consent system like Scheduled Monuments or Listed Buildings, parks and gardens on the Register must be given weight in planning decisions. The National Planning Policy Framework defines registered parks and gardens as designated heritage assets, meaning that substantial harm to, or total loss of, a registered park or garden should be ‘exceptional’ or ‘wholly exceptional’, depending on the site’s grade.