Hello! If you haven’t read my first Blog post, it's called Roots and Records: Managing Garden Archive Data. These are the musings of the Parks & Gardens UK Data Manager (PGUK)
What is Parks & Gardens UK?
So, if you haven’t already had a look around the Parks & Gardens UK archive website, I will provide you with an introduction.
The PGUK archive is a freely accessible, historical and inspiring archive providing information about the UK’s parks, gardens and designed landscapes. The archive has over 10,000 records of historic landscapes sites and over 2,400 biographies of associated people and organisations.
The archive was created to ensure that historic information regarding these historic sites are available for future generations. In September 2016 the Parks & Gardens UK archive found a new home at Hestercombe Gardens Trust, which secured the opportunity to develop and expand the archive with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
In 2019, a new website for Parks & Gardens UK was launched; a part-time Data Manager and a small team of volunteers were tasked to populate the archive database.
Jumping to 2024, there is still much to do on the archive and the part-time Data Manager and team of volunteers are maintaining, updating and adding to the archive.
This archive is a leading online resource for historic parks, gardens and designed landscapes and is an important National treasure trove of information. The archive provides a wealth of information about the UK’s rich history of landscape design that could be lost if this archive is not supported.
My Role at Parks & Gardens UK
Managing and growing this archive is no small feat, and it keeps me on my toes with a variety of responsibilities. I’m constantly switching hats - whether it's expanding, organising, and preserving the collection, collaborating with volunteers, hunting for funding and grant opportunities, or handling the PGUK social media channels, there's always something demanding my attention. My day usually involves navigating through extensive task lists, wrangling countless spreadsheets, and carving out time for reading and research - all while having some music in the background. Right now, it’s classic rock fuelling this blog session.
My job also gives me the opportunity to share photographs of gardens I have taken whilst I am out. For instance, during a recent weekend trip to London, I had the chance to stroll through Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. The experience was wonderful, especially with the beautiful weather. Interestingly, I found myself so immersed in the scenery that I hardly took any photos this time. Additionally, I had the pleasure of attending the Moulin Rouge musical, which was truly spectacular; the sets, music, and performances were all outstanding.
Working at Hestercombe Gardens in Somerset is one of the best parts of this job. It is a beautiful place to call my work home and it is great to be able to walk around at different times of the year and see how the gardens change.
2024 and Beyond
So my future project list is ready to further develop and enhance the archive website, however, these projects unfortunately need funding. This is the part of the role, which I find the most challenging. Finding the right opportunities for funding or grants to help further develop the PGUK site is difficult, mainly because the archive is already digital. Many of the grants that are available are for digitising archives rather than enhancing digital ones, which is frustrating; but I keep looking.
There are key projects that would further develop the reach of the archive. For example, creating login areas for visitors and volunteers, as well as developing educational resources for schools. These initiatives would not only enhance access to this rich collection of historical information, but also ensure its long-term preservation and security. The Parks & Gardens UK archive needs more support, you can donate directly via the Donate link or contact PGUK at info@parksandgardens.org for more information.
A Journey of Learning and Discovery
I am passionate about books and there is nothing quite like diving into a new one. I love reading and sharing my thoughts on the books I discover, whether it is the latest bestseller or a hidden gem that deserves more attention. The PGUK teams’ book reviews can be found on the Parks & Gardens archive website or you can click through using the links provided.
- Eltham Lodge - Where Perfection Meets Convenience
- Garden Transmissions - Word, Image, Experience, Future
- The Plant Hunter's Atlas
If you have a book recommendation, I'd love to read and review it. Whether you're an author, publisher or just a fellow book lover, send me your book and let's connect through the joy of reading.
Thank you for joining me on this journey - I look forward to sharing more insights and stories with you in future posts!
Fiona Baker
Donate
Helping PGUK
Please consider making a single or regular donation to support the PGUK project.
The PGUK archive has records of almost 10,000 historic designed landscape sites and over 2,400 biographies of associated people and organisations. Your donation will help us continue the development of the Parks & Gardens archive to ensure that historic information regarding parks, gardens and design landscape across the UK are available for future generations.