An Urgent Appeal from the Welsh Historic Gardens Trust
The Welsh Historic Gardens Trust is a national heritage organisation concerned with the protection and conservation of historic parks, gardens, and designed landscapes in Wales; they are a key partner of the Institute for the Study of Welsh Estates. At present, they are in urgent need of new officers to ensure that they can continue to operate sustainably.
Could you play a role in the future of the Welsh Historic Gardens Trust?
The Welsh Historic Gardens Trust was founded in 1989 and became a registered charity in 1994. It is comprised of several County Branches, namely Brecon & Radnor, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Clwyd, Gwynedd, Monmouthshire & Gwent, Pembrokeshire, South & Mid Glamorgan, and West Glamorgan.
The Trust campaigns to save historic gardens in Wales from ‘neglect, indifference, insensitive planning and inappropriate planting’. They monitor and provide consultation on planning applications, provide conservation advice to owners, and support heritage projects through small grants. The goal is to ensure that these historic gardens survive intact for future generations.
However, they also work to raise awareness and appreciation of historic gardens in Wales, both large and small. They do this by promoting new research on gardens, which is published in their journal Gerddi and excellent newsletter The Bulletin, now in its 85th issue. Two WHGT branches have produced brilliant surveys of significant gardens in their regions, namely Historic Gardens of the Vale of Glamorgan and Historic Parks and Gardens in Ceredigion. The Trust’s members have also produced a variety of publications, including Mary Gwynedd Jones’ book on Elizabeth Morgan of Henblas, Anglesey, launched in association with an exhibition at Storiel Museum in 2019.
Their important work aligns with ISWE’s goal to demonstrate that landed estates, including formal gardens and designed landscapes, are integral to Welsh history, and should therefore play an integral part in Welsh society today.
While the Welsh Historic Gardens Trust is secure in their structure, purpose and finances, its operation depends on its central board of volunteer officers and trustees, and they are facing considerable difficulties finding new individuals to take on key roles within the organisation. They are specifically looking for a new Chair, Secretary, Planning Officer, and Bulletin and Publications Editor.
If any of our supporters are interested in filling these positions, please contact the Trust using the following email address: admin@whgt.wales.
The Trust is holding an emergency meeting to discuss their future at Plas Dolerw in Newtown, Montgomeryshire on Monday, 23rd March 2026 at 11.30am. Anyone wishing to attend the meeting should contact the Chair, Joanna Davidson (via admin@whgt.wales).
Dr Shaun Evans, Director of ISWE commented that: ‘‘Over the last 30+ years the Welsh Historic Gardens Trust has played such an important role in promoting awareness of and protecting so many of the historic landscapes, parks and gardens associated with the country houses of Wales. They are one of our key partners. The enormous contemporary challenges we’re facing in terms of land use, biodiversity loss, climate change, the environment, planning policy, access to green space, mental health, sustainable tourism and rural economic regeneration (and more) mean that the role of the WHGT is more important that ever. It’s absolutely essential that WHGT continues to thrive as an active and engaged entity into future. I’d urge anybody who has an interest in their work, and capacity to help, to put themselves forward at this time.’’