About Gardens & Designed Landscapes

Gardens and designed landscapes are an important element of Scotland's historic environment and landscape. They contribute greatly to our culture, enrich the texture and pattern of our landscapes and form a unique record of social, cultural and economic change through time. Many are living examples of unique artistic talent, form the setting of listed buildings and scheduled monuments, offer rich and varied habitats for nature conservation and can form critical repositories of rare or champion trees, shrubs and plant material. As a source of enjoyment, relaxation and learning, and a valuable network of green spaces, Scotland’s gardens and designed landscapes contribute to the well-being of local communities and have a big role to play in our tourism industry. They offer a superb educational resource in helping us to understand our distinctive built and landscape heritage and the repeating cycles of nature. Meanwhile, private historic estates often remain working landscapes, providing opportunities for employment and contributing to Scotland’s economy.

Like other elements of the historic environment, gardens and designed landscapes are a fragile and finite resource, vulnerable to a range of impacts from modern life that can damage them and diminish their value and potential. It is important that the most significant sites are identified and protected to ensure that their interest survives, and can be appreciated, in the future.