Garden History Society


The Garden History Society was an organisation in the United Kingdom established to study garden history and to protect historic gardens. Since 2015 it became part of The Gardens Trust, having merged with the Association of Gardens Trusts.
It was founded in 1966, and was a registered charity with headquarters in London. Membership was around 1,500 prior to its merger in 2015.
Presidents included Mavis Batey and Sir Roy Strong. The final Chairman was landscape architect Dominic Cole.
The Society published a quarterly journal, Garden History since 1970. the editor was Dr Barbara Simms.

Statutory role

Since 1995, the Garden History Society was a statutory consultee in relation to planning proposals which affect historic designed landscapes identified by English Heritage as being of national significance, and which are included on the Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England. Thus when a planning authority received a planning application which affected a site on the Register, or the setting of such a site, the planning authority had to consult the Society.