Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18CASE STUDIES 13 Heritage parks Heritage parks and gardens are a fragile and finite resource: without careful management, they can easily be damaged beyond repair or lost forever. These parks are valued green spaces often at the centre of local communities, whether in town or in the country, and such places are an important, distinctive and much cherished part of our country. Benefits • Preserve the historic importance and heritage of an area through conservation and maintenance of landscape features, buildings and structures • Attract visitors to the site with appropriate provision • Retain the historical significance of a site through conservation of natural features, wild fauna and flora • Provide appropriate educational information for visitors • Encourage community involvement in the management and development of the site The Lawn and Central Woodlands, Heriot-Watt University The Lawn and Central Woodlands of the Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh has achieved a Green Flag Award each year since first entering in 2012, encouraging visitors and recognising the achievements of the university and its partners in sustaining the historic gardens. The five-year management plan details the maintenance of the 18th-century green space’s historical features, such as the 200-year-old lawn and surrounding wooded areas, conservation and bio-diversity, while maintaining a mix of indigenous and exotic plants and supporting wildlife. Special care has been taken to safeguard the tranquillity of the area and the site conservation committee is consulted on all aspects of landscape maintenance and management. A grassed Velvet Walk bordered with yews, holly and laurel overlooks three mature woodland areas, stone walls and a private family cemetery. The university has published a series of booklets for visitors outlining the history, sculpture, landscape and tree walks. The university parks and sports pitches area team includes 17 people who do everything from laying paths, preparing ground for buildings, cutting grass and trimming hedges – 4.5 miles of them every year, mostly by hand. “Our grounds and landscaping are a wonderful asset for the university and very much enjoyed by our staff and students. We continue to be the only Scottish university to feature on the Green Flag Award listings and this Award is a very welcome recognition of what has been achieved on the campus thanks to the long-term commitment and hard work of all of our estates colleagues.” Malcolm Deans, Director of Campus Services at Heriot-Watt University Tatton Park, Cheshire 15