Stowe Landscape Gardens
The scale and beauty of Stowe gardens has inspired writers, philosophers, artists, politicians and members of the public from the 18th century to the present day.
I visited the 18th century English picturesque garden on the 7th April 2010. With a vague memory of the landscape from going there as a child I walked around with a few minor expectations of what was to come. It was safe to say these expectactions were met and exceeded to a higher level!
The sheer scale of the garden and parkland that expand to over 400 acres is amazing in itself, with endless paths leading you through the bright green land and enticing you with views of the monuments, temples, lakes, vistas and valleys. The areas of heavy woodland give a different aspect of the gardens and provide an amazing palette of colours in the autumn.
For me it was not only the history behind both Stowe house and gardens that made it what it is, but the way it is purely unique and differs from many other landscapes I have seen. It is not somewhere that indicates exactly where you should walk, look, sit or stand but a place where you are free to roam and enjoy hidden areas or open views for yourself.
I think its really important to look after our historical landscapes, aswell as designing new ones or re-developing old ones. They hold special characteristics that will not be found anywhere else and tell a story at the same time. The history of a site is extremely important as once you know the past you can plan for the future, something in my eyes all landscapers should recognise.
Our Landscape 