In Hackney and Kensal Green Cemetery in Scape Remain Largely

A STRATEGY FOR THE PARK and GARDENS at HAMPTON CourT PALACE

unsuccessful, despite the Millennium A STRATEGY FOR THE Park and GARDENS Commission’s earlier expressed enthusiasm. at HAMPTON CourtTPALACE The sound of raspberries rather than of trum- By David Jacques pets now greets the Commission andits decisions, and the Commission compares Introduction unfavourably with the Heritage Lottery Fund, TT: gardens at Hampton Court are of which disburses grants with less fuss and to world renown. Here, in the finest apparently muchgreatereffect. Baroque layout in Britain, elegant Bids for National Lottery funding - up to parterres, walks withfine vistas, exquisite stat- go% for schemes of under £100,000 and up to uary and ironwork, and numbers ofwalled 75% for larger projects under the Urban “Parks enclosures, are set within a landscape of park- “Programme — have been madebylocal plan- land cut by canals and framed on oneside by ning authorities and trusts for a wide range of the River Thames. Together, this combination historic parks and gardens in Londoninclud- of elements provides a setting for the six acres ing Gunnersbury Park and Osterley Park of building which go to make up Britain’s (both in Hounslow), the Old Deer Park (in largest country royal palace. The principal Richmond), Emslie Horniman Pleasance built elements and garden areas of this land- (Kensington), Waterlow Park, St Pancras scape remain largely unaltered, though their _ Gardens, St George’s Gardens, and Russell character has changed at various times with Square (Camden), Battersea Park changinguses, garden fashion, and the growth (Wandsworth), Crystal Palace (Bromley), of plants. Nunhead Cemetery (Southwark) and Well These alterations, although often being of Hall Pleasance (Greenwich). The bids made interest in their own right, have also often include applications for funding for the acqui- contradifted the design intentions of the sition of land(as at Osterley), for commission- Baroque layout. As the various planted over- ing a Management/Restoration Plan (Old lays themselves decay, numerous dilemmas DeerPark), and to carry out the restoration of arise as to the most desirable treatment, and archite€tural detail and the reinstatement of these dilemmas are compounded by aesthetic the original planting scheme (Emslie considerations, modern pressures of use, and Horniman Pleasance, designed in 1912 by archaeological constraints. C.F.A. Voysey). A strategy for the gardens has now been pre- Moves to proteét and repair churchyards, pared in order to establish the principles of burial grounds and cemeteries were given a care, the desired style and content of the gar- boost by the conference held in November dens, and a framework for future restoration 1996 by the London Historic Parks and Gardens and upgrading. Its recommendations seek to Trust, at which delegates were much encour- ensure a consistency (though not uniformity) aged by the work being done by Trusts and of approach, and that changes that are urgent Friendsat, for example, Abney Park Cemetery and/or important are tackled in a rational way. in Hackney and Kensal Green Cemetery in Kensington and Chelsea. Background ampton Court became Royal in the He: 15208, and in the next decade the country’s largest Tudor gardens were developed by Henry vii. A tiltyard, ornamental orchards, a pond, yard and a privy garden were formed, whilst a walled deer-chasing course was made in the HomePark. The divi- sion of the estate in this way has largely sur- vived to the present, moulding all future developments. The gardensfell behind in fashion during the early seventeenth century, but it is clear that Charles 1, with his uncompleted plans for

43 THE LONDON GARDENER orThe Gardener’s Inteltigencer Volno.2 For the years 1996-97

19. Queen Mary's Bowerasit appeared in c.1920. The trees succumbedto Cutch elm disease in the 19708, but this photograph provided a model for the dower planted in the Privy Garden in 1995. (Historic Royar Paraces) 44 A STRATEGY FOR THE Park and GARDENS at HampTon Court PALACE the Longford River, Charles 1, with his Great creation of purpose-made public parks a Water, and then William 111, all recognised the decade later, and at least one innovation at capability of the place to demonstrate the Hampton Court proved particularly influential utmost in magnificence. William 111 came - the massed beddingin the Fountain Garden. closest to realising his ideal, and the gardens Visitor numbersto the gardens had been ris- he left, and which Queen Anne further ing during the early nineteenth century but embellished, stood as the quintessential shot up after the Palace was opened to the Western Baroque garden in Britain. Ironically, this was general public in 1838 and the South amply shownbythe frequentuse of Hampton Railway was extended to Hampton Court in Court as the modelof the type of garden that 1849. With the hordes at the gate, the residents new plant- the proponents of the /andscape garden wished retreated to the Privy Garden, and to sweep away. ing was designed to provide privacy. In 1890 Fortunately their wishes were not gratified at even the Privy Garden was made public, the time and Hampton Court. In fact, no less a figure than HomePark was openedforthefirst Capability Brown, Royal Gardenerthere from a golf club established in the park. 1764 till his death in 1783, refused to modify the The new breed of Superintendents at of park layout, ‘out of respect for my profession’. In Hampton Court shared the ideals consequence, the Hampton Court gardens and superintendents up and downthe country, and in parks are remarkable for the extent of surviv- were just as interested in the latest fashions carpet ing fabric from the periods of Henry vi and horticulture. In the 1870s they tried William 111. Indeed, taken as a whole, with its bedding in the Fountain Garden, the in important Victorian additions, the ensemble1s Wilderness was converted to a wild garden unrivalled in Britain and rivals the great the 1900s, a superlative herbaceous border was Baroque gardensof Europe, suchas Versailles, established along the wall in the Fountain Schénbrunn and Herrenhausen. Garden in the 1920s, cherries and other orna- From the 1530s the Royal Court regularly mental trees were planted extensively post- stayed at Hampton Court, but its last visit was war, and ornamentalconifers were established in 1737. After this date the Palace and gardens in the apprentice training groundinthe 1970s. gradually becamethe semi-private preserve of The desire of successive superintendents to a legacy of ‘grace-and-favour’ residents, whilst the house- provide for the public has left keeper and gardener operated a remunerative exceptional horticultural achievement, but also sideline in showing Palace andgardensto suit- one of municipalisation. Seating, bins, mettel- able persons. ing of gravel paths, metal edges, and horse Garden. With the incentive to modernise having rides are to be found in the Fountain been removed,no further radical changes took Dust and dirtrises from the loose gravel paths, place, and successive Royal Gardeners saw no and they are not most convenient for wheel- a restau- need to do more than fulfil their contracts to chairs and buggies. In the Tiltyard, parking, and tennis maintain the place. Meanwhile, a slow decline rant, lavatory blocks, car walled garden com- of the fabric was underway. The Wilderness courts have invaded the on Hampton Court lost its hedges as the infill planting started to partments. Traffic levels Green have led to form a high canopy and the clipping of the Road and Hampton Court topiary was stopped, probably by Capability various traffic improvement measures, urban environment of Brown.In time, the resulting growth changed road furniture and an adverse wasgiven a high- the appearance of the parterres radically, so fumes and noise. Vrow Walk in the 1970s. that the borders were eliminated, and, in the ly urban landscape treatment led to paths Fountain Garden, the hollies were too. Traffic within the outer court on the It was this picturesque and rather decrepit being laid outside the lines of bollards scene which presented itself to EdwardJesse, West Front. display the Office of Woods and Forests’ Itinerant Concentration upon horticultural Deputy Surveyor, who assumed responsibility over the last 160 years has focused attention on the overall for the highly successful improvements of the the plant content, rather than on views. Anearly Hampton Court gardens from the mid 1830s. chara¢ter of the gardensor the Privy Garden Jesse’s initiative proved to be a prelude to the example was the change to the 45 THE LONDON GARDENER orThe Gardener’s Intelligencer Volno.2 For the years 1996-97

in the 1830s, when the planting for privacy The Landscape Strategy counteracted William i11’s intention of open- he need for a strategy for the gardens ing a view of the River Thames. Morerecent- and park at Hampton Court has never ly, planting on the far bank of the canal has been stated, though studies in recent reducedthe importantviewsoutoverthepark. years have paved the way. Thefirst was a com- Overall, the original design intentions have prehensive historical survey, undertaken in been largely forgotten, and views to the River 1982 by Travers Morgan Planning. There were Thames, and over the park, have been further reports in 1988/9 on the management obscured. of the gardens and park, undertaken by Land A considerable number - thousands - of Use Consultants. The urgent need to replant ornamental trees and shrubs have been plant- some of the avenues following the Great ed at Hampton Courtthis century. Planting in Storm in 1987, and the restoration of the Privy the Wilderness, in the park, and along the Garden following the repair of fire damage in Barge Walk has usually been historically inap- the South Wing, have intervened, but, on the propriate. There are over 5,000 trees in other hand, have confirmed the desirability of avenues in Hampton Court and Bushy Park, an overall strategy for gardens and park. mostly the common lime (Tilia x vulgaris). A Gardens Strategy Review Group started Almostall came to the end of their lives in this meeting in 1995 under the chairmanship of Dr century. Superintendents have adopted the Simon Thurley, the Curator of the Historic conventional dislike of the commonlime, and Royal Palaces Agency (HRpa). It comprised replacement planting has mostly been with the Palace Director, Robin Evans, the Gardens broad-leaved lime (Tilia platyphyllos), a tree of and Estate Manager at Hampton Court, Terry quite different shape in later years. A variety of Gough, the Consultant on Historic Parks and different spacings has also been tried, and Gardens, David Jacques, the Horticultural there has been sporadic planting of a variety of Consultants, Jan Woudstra and Tom Wright, trees in the park, and repeated grass cutting the Landscape Archite@t, Marylla Hunt and along the avenues, contradicting its essential an Assistant Curator of the HRPaA, Susanne character as an open deer park. Groom. The strategy being discussed hereis Avenue trees may last for 250 years, and one result of its deliberations. clipped trees even longer. However, there are The principal dilemmasto be resolved relate now few specimens remaining from before to conserving the historic qualities of the 1735. The hedges in the Wilderness disap- estate whilst catering for the millions of visi- peared over 100 years ago, and the hornbeam tors who come to see them, and how to com- in the Maze becamedecayed in the early part bat decay. The value of a strategy is not only in of this century, and is now totally replanted identifying such dilemmas, but in clarifying with yews. The condition of the yews in the the aims of management, and pointing the Fountain Garden is a continuing concern, way ahead to changes that are desirable. unlikely to diminish in view of their antiquity. The following general principles were Twogreatdisasters have struck the tree pop- agreed by the HRPa to guide the development ulation in the last quarter-century. First, of the strategy: Dutch elm disease killed all elms on the estate, including those in the Wilderness, those in the 1. To adopt a conservation approachto the care of the bower in the Privy Garden, and those in the property, strengtheningthe historic charaGter of each hedgerows. Second, the Great Storm of garden area andits relationship to the whole. Oétober 1987 carried off most of the remaining 2. To provide a framework. for future maintenance and elderly population of lime trees. A four-year developmentofall areas within the estate including restoration programmeofplanting over 1,250 the built elements within them. lime trees on the Cross Avenue in Home Park 3. To relate the gardens and park to other important was completed in 1995, but the whole of the landscapesadjacent to the Palace, notably Bushy Park patte doie seen from the Fountain Garden is and the River Thames. still very gappy. 4. To provide for visitors a beautiful, informative, relax- ing and enjoyable experience within the gardens.

46 A STRATEGY FOR THE Park and GARDENS af HAMPTON CourT PALACE

20. The G-ear Vine in the eigthteeath-century Viner, 2.1920. The old Vinery was replaced with an aluminium structure ir. the 1970s (Historic Royat PALaces)

47 THE LONDON GARDENERor The Gardener's Intelligencer Volno.2 For the years 1996-97

5. To obtain the best value for money in the mainte- A. Conservation nance andrestoration of the gardens. It was affirmed that conservation should 6. To enhance the gardens’ reputation for horticultural remain the overriding priority which would and arboricultural excellence. dictate the overall character, appearance and 7. To provide guidance on funétions, events and enter- usage of the estate. tainments held on theestate. B. Public Access Although views within and out of the gar- The Group saw no reason to depart from the dens are important at Hampton Court, the general objective, established in the 1830s, of compartmental structure makesit possible to opening the gardens to the public. There are consider each area relatively autonomously. some sensitive areas, though, where visitor The Gardens Strategy Review Group thus broke pressure can be controlled by restricting public the whole estate down into eleven areas. The access. Someareasare less sensitive than oth- history of each garden area was researched in ers andthisis reflected in the report. order to chart the progress of design form, appearance and wildlife content, and then c. History and Beauty each was analysed in detail by considering its In most places the conservation approach present built fabric, horticultural content, eco- would have positive aesthetic benefits. logical value, aesthetic quality, functional con- However, a prohibition of changes not san- siderations, potential and maintenance ctioned by historical precedent might leave aspects. some areas looking somewhat destitute. A The Group’s concept of a conservation modern embellishment of these places might approach was to return areas to a state in well be acceptable, provided that the changes which they had a positive identity and mean- are reversible, compatible with their surrounding. Sometimes this could mean simply tweak- ings, and not passed off as original. ing existing maintenance arrangements; in Notwithstanding the emphasis on conserva- others, where the planting hadlostits form, a tion and history, the gardens must continue to significant degree of restoration was worth be a sourceofdelight and beauty for thevisitor. investigating. The restoration of the Privy Garden is an example of the latter. There and D. Pedestrian Priority in any otherrestorations, the highestrespect is Vehicles passing through the gardens are a to be given to the workmanship of historic nuisanceto visitors and detraét from the ambi- overlays, and decisions will take into account ence. Sometraffic is unavoidable, for example wildlife factors and existing horticultural delivery vehicles to the restaurant in the value. Tiltyard, but the possible relocation of the In some places, new design was recognised glasshouses provides an opportunity to re- as desirable if it would help resolve a larger think vehicular routes elsewhere - particularly conflict between conservation requirements in the Wilderness and the Fountain Garden. and improvements for the sake of, or because Pedestrian access should have priority of, the public. An exampleof this was the des- throughout the gardens and vehicular move- ignation of the Tiltyard as a place for modern ment should be kept to an absolute minimum. requirements such as parking, restaurants, toi- let facilities and picnicking, so that other areas E. Ecology could be spared them. Appropriate historical- The Home Park, especially, is valuable as an ly-based modern garden design would accom- open area and wildlife reservoir in an other- pany them. wise densely populated part of Greater London. The grassland grazed by the deer In addition to the consideration of the estate provides the natural-looking setting for the in its eleven areas, a number of guiding princi- gardens and the avenuesthat cross it. The wet ples were formulated: areas have particular ecological interest. Careful control of the quality of ground water would ensure that this remains the case. All future activity should consider the implications

a1. Flower gardens in che Fountain Garden, c.1320. Hampton Courthas had an unir:e-rupted tradit.on of cazpet-beddinz from the earlyr9¢1 centuryto the presentday. (Historie Royas PALaces) 22. Fountain in the Great Fountain Gardea with its early rath-century jets, ¢.1929. “Historic Royaz PALaces) THE LONDON GARDENERor The Gardener’s Intelligencer Volno.2 For the years 1996-97

23. The East Front Gardens to-day. (Historic Royar Pataces)

50 A STRATEGY FOR THE PARK and GARDENS at HAMPTON Court PALACE on wildlife, and their habitats should be one and the same. This axiom has guided the enhanced whenever the opportunity exists. recent restoration of the Privy Garden. All Water quality from the Longford River must future developments within the gardensor the be regularly monitored and the use of chemicals Palace must consider and emphasise the links in the gardens reduced to the minimum possible. between the two.

F. Horticulture J. Paths and Roadways Restoration of the gardenswill require a sup- The historic materials for paths and roadways ply of historic plants, many of whichare scarce - generally bound gravel - have very often or unobtainable from commercial nurseries. been replaced by loose gravel, tarmac and The Estate Nurseries will be available for other modern substitutes for reasons of avail- propagation, whilst parts of the Arboretum ability or ease of maintenance, though to the area and possibly the Pond Yard area can be detriment of the gardens’ character. Whilst a given over to raising these plants outdoors. full conversion to bound gravel may not be This presents an opportunity for the estate to possible, it will be feasible in manylocations, contribute to garden restoration on a national and more acceptable substitutes are available level, and to provide additional interest in its where vehicular traffic makes a hard-wearing own gardens. Hampton Court should become surface necessary. There should be an‘urgent a reservoir of scarce plants from the periods of and thorough examination of path and road history reflected in the gardens. surfaces in respect of their use and attractive- ness. This should be followed by the adoption Gc. Nurseries of standard specifications for path and road The present Nursery is situated in the old surfaces throughouttheestate. melon ground for historical reasons, and has been used principally for propagating bed- K. Visitor Services ding-out plants which are available commer- Visitors are the lifeblood of Hampton Court, cially. Although this is a suitable location from and means have to be found to accommodate whichto distribute plants around the gardens, their requirements, despite this not being easy the requirement for propagation in the future in such an historic context. There should be is likely to shift from plants commercially adequateprovisionofvisitorservices (informa- available at reasonable cost towards rare trees tion, refreshment,toilets) within the gardens. and shrubs. Meanwhile the space is rather restricted, and movement into and out of the L. Parking and Traffic Management Nursery conflicts with visitors in the Parking is one of the most difficult visitor Wilderness. The possibility of combining the requirements to accommodate as its presence Nursery with the Stud House Nursery in the often conflicts with the historic character of — parkis under consideration. the estate. Whilst, for practical reasons, removal of parking from the Tiltyard cannot H. Gardens Management and Training be achieved immediately, in the long term The gardening staff will need training in the Hampton Court should work towards the establishment and maintenance of historic eliminationofvisitor traffic and parking. plants. This may require old skills to be re- learnt, or re-discovered. Close collaboration M. Signs and Interpretation between historians and gardening staff would It is vital for visitors that sufficient informa- be necessary to make this reality. Staff and tion and directions are provided to enable management must continue to develop their them to gain the maximum from visit. On skills and knowledge (particularly of garden the other hand, the charaéter of the gardens history) through training and external advice could be marred by over-officious signage. into the day-to-day managementand presen- Appropriately designed signs and printed tation of the gardens. guides should be provided to enable visitors to find their way around the gardensandtofully 1. Buildings and Structures enjoy and appreciate them. The gardens and Palace were designed to be

51 THE LONDON GARDENERorThe Gardener’s Intelligencer Volno.2 For the years 1996-97 nN. Events and Entertainments 1893 and suffered severe damage in the Great The Hampton Court Flower Show has high- Storm of 1987. lighted the dilemma of short-term events, The long term aim should be to strengthen which raise welcome funds, but which have the character ofHome Park as an open deerpark, the potential to damage a site in the longer reinstating the avenues and waterways as run. The acceptable frequency andintensity of they formerly were, and addressing vehicular events will dependcrucially upon howtheyare movement. managed, and the reversibility of the effects. Thetrade-off between semi-permanentinstal- 2. HaMPTON Court Roap lations such as roadways which reduce the Hampton Court Road, boundedoneitherside impact of a repeating event, against their by long stretches ofTudorandlater walls, links impact at other times, also deserves considera- Kingston with Hampton Court. Concern here tion. This is a legitimate and historic use of the centres on the existing, and increasing, urban- gardens which should continue, provided that isation and development of a highway in the visitor enjoyment is not unduly compromised remains of whatis a royal park. or lasting damageinflicted. Hampton Court Road should become an appropriate and significantly different environ- 0. Regular Review mentfrom the surrounding roadsso that motorists, Devising a strategy is the beginning of a cyclists andpedestrians can appreciate the area as lengthy process of devising details, implemen- part ofan important historic royalestate. tation, review, adjustment and further action. The detailed strategy makes a large number of 3. ARBORETUM recommendations and in several cases advises The Arboretum was historically part of the that further research or investigation is neces- park in the foreground of the Fountain sary in order to develop specific recommenda- Garden. From the 1970s onwardsit has been tions. A regular review mechanism should be used as a garden for Hampton Court appren- put in place to monitor the progress of the tices. Today it contains a number of ornamen- strategy. tal trees, shrubs and flower beds. The character of this area 1s felt to be out of p. Resources sympathy with the majority ofthe historic estate The gardens and park remain oneofthe chief and it should gradually change to a shrubbery, tourist attractions of Britain because the con- maintaining and displaying historic plants with siderable effort by the gardening staff main- a minimal maintenanceregime. tains them at an exceptionallevel of care. The gardens and estate must receive sufficient 4. East Front resources to reflect their international impor- The East Front is one of the mosthistorically tance and the vital part they play in attracting significant areas in the whole estate. From 1689 the paying visitor to the Palace. it was brought into the gardens immediately adjacent to the Palace andstill retains impor- The preceding sixteen guiding principles were tant yew trees planted by Queen Anne. Since foremost in the Gardens Strategy ‘Review the nineteenth centuryit has been planted up Group's mind when they began work on the with double rotation bedding, and in the 1920s following eleven specific areas of the Hampton two long herbaceous borders were introduced Courtestate which are as follows: along its western edge. The aim for this garden is to retain a mix of 1. Home Park historicperiods loosely based on its Victorian plan Home Park, which covers 750 acres and is as modified during the 1920s. It has always been boundedby long stretches of Tudorand seven- the largest and grandest public garden at the teenth-century boundary walls on the north Palace and this character should be retained and and on the south and east by the Barge Walk, embellished. The important elements are the is intersected by the largest and most impor- retention ofwide, open spaces and boldplanting tant set of eighteenth-century avenues in the with clear views in towards the Palace and out country. The park was openedto the public in towards thepark.

52 THE LONDON GARDENER or The Gardener's Intelligencer Vol no.2 For the year 1996-97 A STRATEGY FOR THE Park and GARDENS at HAMPTON Court PALACE

ir afTe}1 TENNIS COURT LANE

HOM: PARK

A SealeScale ofof MetresSLE SR (foragdelai Le 19 o bo te

[Amen smal ts AE TOC a earWy, MAP rnPad‘a, TONCOURT PALACE GeARDENS & aC "4bs107) sfenplends gk,Rood | EafeSront ihyy Gaa i Ponsaih |/

Se ale of Metres ( for Ks late Survey) ies ifory ———T96 ajooger #400, Jeo Goo aan +997 |

27. A plan of Hampton Court Palace estate, 1997. (Drawn By Topp Lonestarre-Gowan)

D A STRATEGY FOR THE Park and GARDENS at HampTon Court PALACE

wre fo

24. Trophy Gate, 1996. (Histor:c RoyaPaaces) 2s. Lion Gate,1996. (Historic Royar PaLaces) Trophy Gate and Lion Gate - among the most monumental gatewaysin Britain - Fresently sit amidst a sea of tarmac. Their presentation will be addressed in the Landscape Strategy. 26. The Barge Walk, 1996. (Historic Royar Pa.aces) 53 THE LONDON GARDENER or The Gardener's Intelligencer Volno.2 For the years 1996-97

5. Privy GARDEN 8. West FRONT The Privy Garden has recently been restored This large and disparate area contains a num- to its appearance in 1702 when William 1 ber of important built structures including completed his great parterre there. Trophy Gate and the moat. There is little of This garden should be maintainedas afaithful horticultural importance in the area, which reproduction of William 111s Privy Garden of was intendedasa first courtyard to the Palace, 1702. The accuracy and typeofplanting should be lined with buildings both to the east and west. developed and in due course the holly and yew Today the tarmac produces a bleak windswept trees should be replanted with the historic clones appearance andthetraffic confli€ts with visi- from the originalgarden. tors. The West Frontshould be a grand, magnificent 6. Ponp GarpDENs, VINE, ORANGERY AND entrance to the Palace with a realsense ofenclo- BANQUETING House GARDEN sure beyond Trophy Gate. There should be a bold This area is the most intensively gardened part overall design creating a traffic-free environ- of the estate; it contains the only surviving ment. The West Front and its grace-and-favour Tudorgarden features and a numberofancient gardens should be reconfigured in orderto create a banks, buildings, walls and other features of grander entrance. The West Frontfootpaths and importance. It also embraces William 111’s roads should be resurfaced to provide a less ugly Banqueting House, the Great Vine and its and brutal appearance. greenhouse, and the Lower Orangery now housing Mantegna’s Triumphs of Caesar. g. TILTYARD The Pond Gardens are one ofthe mostpopular The Tiltyard was laid out for tournaments in parts of the estate and should retain the subtle the reign of Henry vii but was later laid down mix of historic periods in a numberof distinctly to horticultural use. During the seventeenth planted areas. Visitor circulation needs to be century, the area fell into use as kitchen gar- improved to allow access to each of these. This dens and only in the 1920s was much of it should include making a link with the Privy given over to recreational uses, including ten- Garden from the Banqueting House terrace. nis, a tea-house andlavatories. Priority should be given to the planting of the Changes to the Tiltyard should emphasise its 1950s Sunken Garden, the area before the role as primarily a centrefor visitor activity and Orangery and the grace-and-favourorchard. All education, with possibilities for picnicking, eat- three ofthese areas have thepotentialto represent ing, children’s activities, demonstrationfruit and seventeenth-century phases ofgarden history. vegetable growing, parking and lavatories. A series of improvements should be undertaken to 7. BaRGE WALK the gardens in order to emphasise their former Barge Walk runs between Kingston and Hampton historic uses and to provide a robust and sympa- Court Bridges and was used asa tow path until thetic visitor environment. the 1920s. Thereis very little of built or horticultural importance along its length and a 10. THE WILDERNESS period of negleét has led to overgrown and This area in the sixteenth century was an inappropriate edgingto the river and the park. orchard, but waslaid out as a wilderness in the This area shouldform a visual screen between early eighteenth century. It contains some of the river and the park and retain an echoof its the most famous features in the Hampton former use as a barge walk. The maintenance Court gardens including the Maze and the regime should be substantially less rigid than spring bulb display, but for muchofthe yearit elsewhere on the estate allowing a natural rural is a roughly mowngrass area with a numberof aspect to develop. The ornamental planting trees. should be allowed to die out and the former The Wilderness should more closely reflect its hedgerows andtall tree screen should be re-estab- historic appearance. There should be a phased lished. The inappropriate and ugly development policy of recovering the historic elements in the along the Hampton Court Bridge end of Barge garden such as the hedges and path layout, but Walk should be cleaned up andrationalised, and these should notjeopardise the famous bulb dis- a stricter regime ofmanagementintroduced. plays or views of the Palace. The area between 54 A STRATEGY FOR THE ParK and GARDENS at HAMPTON CourT PALACE the Wilderness and the Nursery should be reordered on the basis of its seventeenth-century layout. Improvements to the Maze, which does not meet the standard ofpresentation set elsewhere in the gardens, are urgently required. u1. THE GREEN The Green is an ancient grazing common which has been partof the Palace since the sixteenth century. There are no important buildings on the Green but it performs an important role for the local community and the Palace. The footpaths should be redirected to meet pedestrian needs byproviding a more direct route from the carpark to the Palace. The grass should be cut a little higher to make it more consistent with a green and less ofa garden. The car park should be screened by planting trees in front and within the carpark.

After consultation has been completed, the Strategy will be adopted by nRpa and priori- tised action list created to guide implement- ation overthe next 5 years.