Views Reconnection Issue 53 Autumn 2016 Views One touch of nature makes the whole world kin. ‘ William Shakespeare’ Reconnection Issue 53 Autumn 2016 Editorial information Guidelines for contributors Views is compiled and edited by Jacky Ferneyhough. Credit and Views is intended as a free exchange of ideas, experiences and thanks are due to Anthony Lambert for his efficient proofreading. practices. Comments and contributions are welcomed at any time All queries associated with Views should be emailed to from the Views readership. 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We can use almost any medium but prefer high-resolution (minimum 300dpi) jpgs. We are trying to improve and increase the pictorial content and would prefer to receive an illustration with each article if possible. Please include a caption with each illustration and provide us with the name of the photographer or artist so that they may be credited. ⅷ Deadlines: Please meet the deadlines given. For the next issue of Views these will be announced via Red email and other internal communications. There is no guarantee that articles or changes received after a deadline will be included. Permission will be sought from contributors if the Trust wishes to reproduce their article in any format (printed or electronic) for an external audience. For an information sheet on writing for Views, please email [email protected] Front cover: The Intending Lines artwork by Red Earth at Berrington Hall. Printed on 100% recycled paper © Red Earth © 2016 National Trust. Registered charity no. 205846 Small images from left: Robert Hunter, one of the Trust’s founders. Designed by Blacker Limited © National Trust Images; A member of the Young Roots archaeology group Print managed by Park Lane Press connects to the past through a find. © National Trust/Rachael Hall; A demonstration of painting conservation at Attingham Park. © National Trust/Sarah Kay; Pond-dipping at Colby Woodland Garden. © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey Page 1: Child touching lichen at Trelissick. © National Trust Images/John Millar Page 3: Walker at Surprise View above Derwentwater, Cumbria. © National Trust Images/Paul Harris 2 Views Editorial econnection lies at the heart of so Joining up nature through the provision of astonishing – who would have thought the much of the Trust’s work that it’s a better, more connected habitats is a key way unassuming corridors of our houses would Rgreat topic for Views to address. It in which we’ll deliver our objective of nursing have so many stories to tell? – and this issue has proved enormously popular with our the nation’s natural environment back to more than most has had authors digging contributors; hence this bumper edition. health, as enshrined in our strategy. deep into the largely unknown histories of As a society we have become increasingly And helping people to connect more our places. The challenge of finding a fresh disconnected in many ways. Technology, closely and become more engaged with their approach to engage and enthral our visitors digitisation, mobility, development, local green spaces and built heritage is is one that would seem both to be being economic growth and globalisation have all central to our strategy’s ambition to help relished and very often met. That it is done brought benefits, but some downsides too. people look after the places where they live. through carrying out our core purpose and In the Trust we can play an important role in All these aspects and more are covered in demonstrating conservation principles is all helping to reconnect people with places, this edition. This year’s articles testify to the the more rewarding. with our heritage, with nature and with each creativity and skill that exist at our places, other. We can also help to reconnect nature the teamwork that carries and achieves our Whatever your particular role or interest, itself – the habitats on which it depends ambitions, a focus on nothing less than the there is something for you here. Enjoy! have become increasingly fragmented over highest standards or best outcome, and a the last half-century through industrialised commitment to seeing a job through. Peter Nixon farming and infrastructure development. Reading Views is at once inspiring and Director of Land, Landscape and Nature What a Views! The theme for Views 2017 is ‘Movers and Shapers’ – we want to hear about You can help us make the 2017 issue of Views the key factors influencing your management approach, shaping change on a fantastic reading experience! If you’re doing and off your property, the trends and the people you’re watching and what’s something you find interesting, we’d love to moving in/out. Whether your interest is nature, people, places or collections, hear about it. Tell us what you’ve tried, what share your stories! Deadlines will be between 21 May and 1 June 2017. you’ve learned and what you’ve achieved or However, articles and recommendations of authors/projects are welcomed at are planning to do next. any time; send them to [email protected] Views 3 Contents 41 The Attingham Re-discovered project: reconnecting with Attingham’s visitors Sarah Kay, Project Curator 43 Reconnecting with Croome’s Landscapes retouched Growing connections collection: redefining a country-house experience 6 Reconnecting with our roots: 25 Lessons from Japan’s divine Amy Forster, House & Visitor Experience Manager helping urban green spaces gardens survive in the twenty-first Katie Croft, Gardener 45 Unlocking the National Trust’s century furniture: introducing a new Harry Bowell, Director of the North 28 Weaving echoes of Dyrham’s research project past into a twenty-first- Wolf Burchard, Furniture Research 8 A very capable year: century garden Curator celebrating the life and times Beth Weston, Outdoor Visitor and of ‘Capability’ Brown and the Volunteering Experience Officer 47 Sharing our history influence of his work today Sarah Kay, Project Curator Mark Lamey, Capability Brown 31 Growing gardeners: garden Tercentenary Project Manager training through the ages 48 Waddesdon Manor: the Kate Nicoll, National Specialist for Rothschild’s gift to the 11 Stowe Landscape Project Garden Training National Trust 2016: a focus on the 34 Room to grow: plant Linzi Grimwood, Visitor Services ‘Capability’ Brown landscape Assistant Christine Walmsley, Consultancy recording in the National Manager; Tom Boggis, Curator; Fred Trust 50 ‘A much-loved family home’: Markland, Building Surveyor; and Barry Franklyn Tancock, former Plant reconnecting with the Beale Smith, Head of Gardens and Estates Collection Curator family at Standen Anne F. Stutchbury, Volunteer 13 Georgian glories Researcher and AHRC collaborative Ana Vaughan, Visitor Experience doctoral researcher, University of Sussex Manager 53 Reconnecting with the Edge 15 Lost in the woods: finding Christopher Widger, Countryside Attingham Park’s lost Manager, and John Prag, Co-ordinator, Pleasure Grounds Alderley Edge Landscape Project Bob Thurston, Countryside Parks and Revelation and Gardens Manager 55 Step into Brimham reconnection Stephen Lewis and Rupert Tillyard, Day 18 Room for gloom: restoring Maker Volunteers Kedleston’s eighteenth- century Hermitage 36 Rainham Hall: opening a 57 Kinver Edge and the Rock Simon McCormack, Conservation National Trust property in Houses Manager, and Danielle Westerhof, an urban and industrial Peter Hodges, Volunteer Researcher and freelance historian, librarian and writer landscape Writer Sally James, Creative Programme 20 Visions from the past: Manager 59 Related by water, unbroken by celebrating ‘Capability’ time: the River Wey family Brown’s legacy at Sheffield 39 Reconnecting Polesden Emma Goodwin, Lengthsman Park Lacey with its pasts Rebecca Steel,