Gobions Woodland Trust Second Heritage Fund Application

Following our first Heritage Lottery Fund grant of Ł22,200 towards formulating a restoration and management plan for Gobions Wood, we are now in possession of the data needed to make informed decisions for the plan.

Our consultants, Landscape Design Associates, have produced magnificent reports on the history and ecology of our land. At the time of writing, we are discussing the various detailed proposals for the plan, with a view to submitting our major HLF application later this year.

The proposals will be presented to a meeting of the Friends (see below). Meanwhile, the two sketch maps and the article, "The Spirit of the Place", may give new insights into characteristics of the wood and Bridgeman's work.

Outline of Landscape Design Associates proposals

The sketch map outlines some of the proposals from Landscape Design Associates and the section "The Spirit of the Place" describes how the garden was originally designed to appeal to the people of the time. The second map, Geometry of Bridgeman's Design for Gobions, outlines the importance of geometry in Bridgeman's designs. (Editor's Note: Click on the thumbnail on the right to reveal a larger version of the LDA proposal)

You will see that it is not our intention to attempt to reconstruct the 18th century pleasure gardens, but give a feeling of what it was like and enable us to appreciate how important Charles Bridgeman's work was to the development of the style which became known internationally as the English Garden.

We are also in discussions with the Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust, with a view to being taken under their wing. We need a more full-time management base to handle the Lottery bid and generally to ensure the continuing good management of Trust lands.

By respecting both the history and ecology of our land, we aim to continue to follow our mission statement "To protect, maintain and enhance the environment centred on Gobions Wood for the benefit of all wildlife and the enjoyment of the public".

We look forward to explaining our proposals to you at the meeting of the Friends (details below).

Presentation of
PROPOSALS FOR THE FUTURE OF THE WOOD AND THE TRUST
to the
FRIENDS OF GOBIONS WOODLAND TRUST
at NORTH MYMMS YOUTH AND COMMUNITY CENTRE, Station Road, Welham Green
on Monday 9 September, 7:00 for 7:45pm

Refreshments will be served from 7:00 to 7:30.

1. Introductions
Landscape Design Associates, Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust, GWT trustees
2. Charles Bridgeman - The importance of his work
3. An interpretation of Bridgeman's work at Gobions
4. Financing the changes
5. The Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust
6. The way forward.

There will be opportunities for questions and discussion at appropriate junctures.