SGLH campaigns to protect heritage gardens and designed landscapes, and trains volunteers to record them
In Scotland, nationally important sites are listed and described in An Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes. It is compiled and maintained by HES. However, there are hundreds of other gardens and sites, not on the Inventory, which are of regional or local significance.
Policy
We respond to Scottish government consultations such as the Scottish Planning Policy (SPP), Historic Environment Policy for Scotland (HEPS) and Our Place in Time: the Historic Environment Strategy for Scotland. We have forged links with local authorities to ensure appropriate policies are included in Local Development Plans.
Planning consultations
When sites on the Inventory are affected by planning proposals, HES must be consulted. SGLH offers independent advice on Inventory and non-Inventory sites when requested by local planning authorities, Forestry and Land Scotland and private individuals.
Recording Regional and Local Gardens and Designed Landscapes

An Introduction to Glorious Gardens
Glorious Gardens is a pilot project to research and record historic gardens and designed landscapes in Scotland. The project focusses on properties which are not listed in the Historic Scotland Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes, but which still retain evidence for their development and have some conservation value.
We were awarded major grant funding by HES and HLF for a pilot project (“Glorious Gardens”) to record historic gardens and designed landscapes in Falkirk and the Clyde and Avon Valley. You can read more about this and other projects with local volunteers on our Recording Projects page.
In its first phase, the project covered gardens and designed landscapes in the Clyde and Avon Valley and Falkirk. The second phase was devoted to the development of a conservation strategy and landowner guidance notes for both areas. Funding was provided by Historic Environment Scotland and the Heritage Lottery Fund. Both phases relied heavily on the hard work of local volunteers under the supervision of the SGLH team.
SGLH has now launched the third phase of the project, consisting of the preparation of a digital learning pack to facilitate the training of volunteers to research, survey and record sites, and to promote the development of a strategy to conserve historic landscapes and a conservation guide for landowners. Testing of the digital pack is being carried out on some sixty sites in the East Lothian area. The project is jointly funded by East Lothian Council and SGLH. Archaeology Scotland is providing support for the coordination of the volunteer effort. A Steering Group comprising representatives of East Lothian Council, Historic Environment Scotland and SGLH will oversee the running of the project. The project is expected to extend over three years. The first two training sessions have taken place at the John Gray Centre in Haddington. They have been well attended, and 27 volunteers are currently participating in the project. Apart from the testing of the toolkit, another important product of the project will be the delivery of significance statements to inform the planning activities of East Lothian Council.

Airth Castle
Falkirk
Report by Fiona Gordon & Marion Shawcross on the Development of the Gardens and Designed Landscape.
(3.92MB)

Auchtyfardle
Clyde and Avon Valley
Report by: Ruth Thomas and Peter Tucker on the Development of the Gardens and Designed Landscape.
(7.10MB)

Balquhatstone House, Slamannan
Falkirk
Report by: Anna Hardstaff on the Development of the Gardens and Designed Landscape.
(2.90MB)

Baronald
Clyde and Avon Valley
Report by: Chloe and Nick Bennett on the Development of the Gardens and Designed Landscape.
(3.04MB)

Bothwell St. Brides Collegiate Church Graveyard
Clyde and Avon Valley
Report by: Janice Donaldson & Liz Meikle on the development of the graveyard.
(7.68MB)

Cambusnethan House
Clyde and Avon Valley
Report by: Maureen McKeown on the Development of the Gardens and Designed Landscape.
(5.26MB)

Carfin & Crossford Park
Clyde and Avon Valley
Report by Louise Arthur, Janice Donaldson & Liz Meikle on the Development of the Gardens and Designed Landscape. (4.67MB)

Carron House
Falkirk
Report by: Fiona Gordon and Marion Shawcross on the Development of the Gardens and Designed Landscape.
(11.63MB)

Carronvale House
Falkirk
Report by Lorna Innes, Paul Wilkinson & Sue Hewer on the Development of the Gardens and Designed Landscape. (3.02MB)

Carriden House
Falkirk
Report by Marilyn Scott on the Development of the Gardens and Designed Landscape.
(3.43MB)

Cleghorn
Clyde and Avon Valley
Report by Anne Armstrong and Willie Speirs on the Development of the Gardens and Designed Landscape.
(5.36MB)

Dalserf House
Clyde and Avon Valley
Report by Lorna Innes and Maureen McKeown on the Development of the Gardens and Designed Landscape.
(5.07MB)

Arnotdale House / Dollar Park
Report by Allan Meek on the Development of the Gardens and Designed Landscape.
(2.42MB)

Falkirk Cemetery
Falkirk
Report by Fiona Gordon and Marion Shawcross on the Development of the Gardens and Designed Landscape.
(10.55MB)

Glenbervie
Falkirk
Report by Marion Shawcross and Fiona Gordon on the Development of the Gardens and Designed Landscape.
(3.84MB)

Harperfield
Clyde and Avon Valley
Report by Anne Armstrong with Willie Speirs on the Development of the Gardens and Designed Landscape.
(3.33MB)

Jerviswood
Clyde and Avon Valley
Report by Maureen McKeown with Kathryn Valentine on the Development of the Gardens and Designed Landscape. (3.86MB)

Kerse House
Clyde and Avon Valley
Report by Peter Tucker and Ruth Thomas on the Development of the Gardens and Designed Landscape.
(3.39MB)

Larbert House
Falkirk
Report by Marilyn Scott on the Development of the Gardens and Designed Landscape.
(1.83MB)

Mauldslie
Clyde and Avon Valley
Report by Louise Arthur, Janice Donaldson & Liz Meikle on the Development of the Gardens and Designed Landscape. (7.42MB)

Milton Lockhart
Clyde and Avon Valley
Report by Lorna Innes and Olivia Lelong on the Development of the Gardens and Designed Landscape.
(4.59MB)

Muiravonside
Report by Rena Moore and Iain Kirkman on the Development of the Gardens and Designed Landscape.
(11.40MB)

Powfoulis Estate
Falkirk
Report by Marilyn Scott on the Development of the Gardens and Designed Landscape.
(1.70MB)

South Bantaskine
Report by Anna Hardstaff on the Development of the Gardens and Designed Landscape.
(2.23MB)

Stonebyres
Clyde and Avon Valley
Report by Margaret Baillie, Ruth McKinnon & Ruth Thomas on the Development of the Gardens and Designed Landscape. (8.19MB)

Waygateshaw House
Clyde and Avon Valley
Report by Sharon Paton and Margaret Walker on the Development of the Gardens and Designed Landscape.
(3.60MB)

Westquarter
Falkirk
Report by Fiona Gordon and Marion Shawcross on the Development of the Gardens and Designed Landscape.
(5.90MB)

Zetland Park
Falkirk
Report by Iain Kirkman and Tom Mitchell on the Development of the Gardens and Designed Landscape.
(2.82MB)