Manage heritage parks and gardens

This standard is for those who manage heritage parks and gardens to ensure historic features of the landscape or plant collections are managed and maintained in an appropriate way.

This standard is suitable for Parks Managers, Curators and Head Gardeners, particularly in heritage parks, gardens and botanic gardens.

You must carry out your work in a way which will minimise the impact on the natural environment.

1. contribute to the development of a property-wide conservation management plan in relation to the heritage parks, gardens and landscape, incorporating sustainable best practice and the management of biodiversity
2. contribute to the resource management plan for the site
3. contribute to the planning and control of budgets for the site
4. develop a management plan for the site, including a schedule for cyclical maintenance, repair and replacement
5. confirm that the identification and control of pests and diseases is carried out
6. check plant acquisition, monitoring, retention and disposal policies are applied
7. check records are maintained in accordance with organisational policies
8. assess the risks associated with the site and the activities
9. carry out an environmental assessment of the site
10. in addition to risk assessment requirements confirm that relevant environmental and health and safety policies are implemented across your area of responsibility
11. check working methods are established and clearly communicated to all those involved
12. check that all information available for visitors regarding the site is relevant and will enhance the visitor experience  
13. manage visitor access to minimise the impact on the site
14. improve processes by encouraging feedback from those involved in the running of the site and those who use it
15. monitor the implementation of the management plan and revise where necessary
16. carry out your work in accordance with relevant environmental and health and safety legislation, risk assessment requirements, codes of practice and organisational policies

1. the heritage, conservation and amenity value of plants in heritage parks and gardens and their relationship to the conservation management plan
2. different garden styles and their respective management requirements
3. the significance of a plant collection including its scientific, botanical, local and cultural significance
4. the importance of maintaining plant records
5. how to identify hazards and assess risks
6. the significance of environmental conservation requirements
7. how to prepare biodiversity action plans
8. the identification of non-indigenous or non-native, invasive and protected plant species and what action to take
9. the implications of pests and diseases, the appropriate action to take and the importance of hygiene and biosecurity
10. the stages of plant development
11. how plant development changes a garden landscape and how this affects management activities for maintenance, renewal and replacement
12. relevant legislation relating to the management of heritage parks and gardens  
13. relevant designations and regulations relating to heritage parks and gardens
14. relevant plant procurement, movement and quarantine, passport and plant health guidance, and legislative and organisational policies
15. the implications for the management and resource plan of managing employed and volunteer staff
16. the provision of grants and other sources of funding, where appropriate
17. the implications of opening to the public and the impact of periods of high visitor numbers on the site
18. how visitors to heritage parks and gardens should be managed
19. how to collect and use feedback to improve the management of the site
20. the importance of maintaining communication with those involved in, or affected by, your work and how this should be done
21. the records that need to be kept and the importance of completing them
22. the importance of following relevant environmental and ecological best practice to help minimise the impact of your work on the environment
23. your responsibilities under relevant environmental and health and safety legislation, codes of practice and organisational policies

​Designations and regulations relating to heritage parks and gardens:

the Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest, Conservation Areas, Scheduled Monuments, Sites of Special Scientific Interest, Tree Preservation Orders, Construction Design Management (CDM) regulations