The High Sheriff of Gloucestershire has visited Painswick Rococo Garden to see how the historic attraction is welcoming more people through community outreach and conservation projects.
Dame Fiona Reynolds visited England’s last surviving Rococo garden on Friday, October 30. During the visit, she heard how the charity responsible for the attraction is working to make its historic landscape more accessible.
National Lottery funding supports community activities
The garden has reached 1,406 people over the past year through a programme of community activities supported by National Lottery funding.
The programme has included opportunities for people with learning disabilities and neurodivergent participants to enjoy the garden. Activities have also enabled participants to connect with nature, heritage and one another.
The visit focused on the way the historic site is being used as a place for community engagement as well as conservation. The garden’s outreach work is intended to help more people experience its landscape and heritage.
Conservation work continues
Dame Fiona’s visit also highlighted the charity’s ongoing work to care for the garden’s unique landscape. That work is focused on preserving the site for future generations while the organisation continues efforts to make it more accessible to a wider range of visitors.
Painswick Rococo Garden is described as England’s last surviving Rococo garden. Its work therefore combines the protection of a distinctive historic landscape with activities designed to widen participation and create opportunities for people to spend time in the garden.
The visit brought together the garden’s community outreach, access and conservation work. National Lottery support has helped the attraction involve people through activities linked to nature, heritage and shared experiences.
Marta Gardner, marketing manager at Painswick Rococo Garden, said the organisation was pleased to show Dame Fiona how it is caring for the site.
“We were delighted to welcome Dame Fiona to Rococo Garden and share how we are preserving this Gloucestershire jewel for future generations.”
The garden has not stated any additional next steps or future programme dates in the supplied report. The visit nevertheless provided an overview of how its community activities and conservation responsibilities are being carried out together at the historic attraction.