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2007 Project Details
Introduction to Knightshayes
Court
Knightshayes Court
is a striking Victorian Gothic mansion near Tiverton, Devon
It features a large, world-famous, Grade II listed garden, and interiors
that combine medieval
romanticism with lavish 19th century decoration. The property is managed
by the National Trust,
and includes 262 acres of parkland, woodlands, formal garden, nursery,
and a walled kitchen garden
Like most gardens,
Knightshayes has evolved over time and shows influences from a number
of historical periods.
The most important contribution was that of the Heathcoat-Amory family,
particularly Sir John and Lady Heathcoat-Amory,
who created much of what we see today, including the "Garden in the
Wood,"- a splendid collection of unusual plants
from around the world, carefully planted under trees and in clearings
in the woodland.
In recent years the
National Trust has restored the magnificent Victorian walled kitchen garden
to working order.
The National Trust's Plant
Conservation Programme
Resident at Knightshayes,
the Plant Conservation Programme (PCP) was established in 1982
to propagate and distribute historically
or botanically important plants from original specimens in Trust gardens
and parks across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Its value was particularly
highlighted following the 1987 Great Storm, when many important plants,
including
fine and historic specimens, were destroyed in a single night. The PCP
has since propagated approximately
10,000 plants, including new material from authorized wild sources abroad,
and those that our Head Gardeners
request and are unable to be acquired through the nursery trade.
The PCP is now the
focus of a new thrust of initiatives, aimed at ensuring that the Trust's
plant collections
are appropriately managed into the future. A critical component of that
work - and the focus of this Fellowship -
is the need to tell the stories of how plants have contributed to British
gardens and gardening traditions,
in addition to highlighting the importance of the Trust's plant collection
(perhaps the largest group of cultivated
plants in Europe, if not the world).
The Fellowship's Plant Conservation
Programme Project
The goal of the project
is for the Horan Fellow to undertake a first phase of research drawing
on a wide
variety of sources (i.e., oral, printed, electronic, archival) to develop
material needed to publicize
and interpret the work of PCP and the Trust in conserving historically
and botanically important plants.
This project comes
at an exciting time, when the Trust plans to raise greater awareness of
its
vast plant collections and of its place on the international plant conservation
stage - in particular
its contribution to the conservation of historically important plants
and wild source plants from around the world.
Plant Conservation
Programme Goals:
I. To seek
out stories from a wide variety of sources - oral, printed, electronic,
archival - relating to
individual plants, the history of plant collecting, and breeding and
growing in National Trust gardens.
These stories are needed to support interpretation initiatives, adding
another dimension to the visitor experience.
II. Develop
printed materials - literature, posters, leaflets - from the information
gathered, and contribute to the Trust's Intranet and internet pages.
III. Produce
a written report setting out what was learned in gathering information,
sources, references, etc.,
and suggestions on where to look for future information.
Expected Goals
for the Fellow during the 10 weeks:
Presentation of Findings
Written reports on
individual plants will be created by the Fellow and available for view
on the National Trust's
website. Additional information should be presented to Trust staff at
the end of the Fellowship, in the form of
electronic research text documents, files and images.
The Fellow will additionally
be required to submit a report on their experience and their suggestions
for sources for
future research on plants. (This should be completed upon return to the
U.S., and mailed to The Royal Oak Foundation.)
Benefits to Recipient
- Participation in
and contributions towards a major conservation project with national,
if not international, implications
- Contribution to
the work of the property team promoting the value of the National Trust's
plant collections
- Experience of working
with a skilled National Trust property team
- Development of
research and survey skills
- Familiarization
with conservation practices in the UK
- Opportunity to
liaise with National Trust Gardens Advisors
- Opportunity to
develop insight into the history of plants in English gardens
Support
The recipient will
be supervised and supported by John Lanyon, Head Gardener at Knightshayes,
as well asby the Head of Gardens & Parks for the National Trust and
the Plant Collections Curator,
both based at Heelis, Swindon (National Trust headquarters).
An initial meeting
with this team will outline the parameters of the project, its aims and
initial areas of investigation,
contacts, etc. Regular supervision will be provided, including direction
on research leads and on editorial
style, in order to ensure consistency with the Trust's institutional style
prior to uploading on the internet.
The local Interpretation
and Learning officer will provide additional assistance, and the wider
National Trust
staff will also be available for support and advice, particularly the
Gardens Advisors based at Heelis.
The Fellow will be a part of the Knightshayes team, and will be encouraged
to participate in National Trust
events and help in other departments as opportunities arise.
Location and Transportation
Most of the Fellowship
work will be based at Knightshayes Court. Limited office space and support
will be given to the Fellow.
The Fellow will live
for the full duration of the Fellowship at The Home Farm, a private home,
located
next to the Knightshayes estate. The accommodation will be "bed &
breakfast" style, and Royal Oak
is very grateful for the generous offer of the owners, a local couple
who are active at Knightshayes, to share their home.
Approximately two weeks will be spent traveling to National Trust gardens
to gather stories, interview staff, and photograph
plants being researched. A rented car will be provided by the Trust for
this two week period. Applicants therefore must have
a willingness to obtain an International Driver's License prior to the
Fellowship, and be comfortable with periodically driving
alone. Approximately one week additionally will be spent traveling to
local gardens using public transportation or by accompanying Trust staff.
Dates of Fellowship
A mutually agreeable ten-week period between July 1 and September 30.
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