Easy Access to Historic Landscapes

The UK’s historic parks, gardens and landscapes are valued for their beauty, diversity and historic significance. Millions of people visit them every year but many others feel unwelcome and unable to enjoy these special places. Improving access is one key to a wider understanding, valuing, caring and enjoyment of historic landscapes.

Marking the 2005 anniversary of the DDA, English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund have issued a new publication to offer owners and managers of historic parks, gardens and landscapes advice on improving access and reconciling access with conservation interests.

The publication was partly funded by Historic Scotland and the National Trust, the Countryside Agency and the Historic Houses Association advised on the development of the guidance.

The guidance promotes an inclusive approach to design and management of access, addressing the needs of all people, regardless of age, gender, background or disability. The publication looks at getting the balance between access and conservation and common problems and issues in parks and gardens that are barriers to access. It also includes sources of information on both improving access and conservation. The guidance is a companion volume to English Heritage’s Easy Access to Historic Buildings. Printed copies are available free from English Heritage Customer Services telephone 0870 333 1181. Please quote product code PC51126. Alternative formats will be available shortly.

Easy Access To Historic LandscapesView or print the Easy Access to Historic Landscapes on-line using adobe Acrobat. (1.6 Mb)

Alternatively, view or print the Easy Access to Historic Landscapes (MS Word version), in an accessible format approved by the RNIB (Royal National Institute of the Blind).

English Heritage is committed to improving access to the historic environment, by

• Helping other agencies and organisations to adopt creative and sensitive solutions in the adaptation and management of their properties, and
• Adopting best practice itself, in relation to the properties it manages, the services it provides, and the people it employs.

More information on how we intend to improve access is set out in the English Heritage Access Policy. PDF(32K)

Also available is a free copy of our Accessibility Guide pdf (1.6MB) with an honest assessment of our services and facilities at our properties.

   If you do not have a free copy of the Adobe Acrobat Viewer please click here to download it.