Conservation
An important aspect of the Estate's work is on-going conservation.
This includes the upkeep and maintenance not only of the Estate's spectacular architecture, but its natural features of flora, fauna and wildlife.
Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal provides enormous scope for different types
of conservation practice:
- historic buildings
- man-made and natural landscapes
- water features
- maintaining the delicate ecological balance to provide an environment for all the native species of animal and plant life.
An Overview
In 1983 an appeal was launched to raise £1 million for emergency work. Since
that time, and in a continuing programme, the original splendour of the garden
and park has been revived.
Garden buildings and statues have undergone extensive restoration and repair, and the crisp formality of the ornamental ponds and canals has been re-established. Lakes have been dredged, eroded banks re-profiled and sluices repaired.
Garden buildings and statues have undergone extensive restoration and repair, and the crisp formality of the ornamental ponds and canals has been re-established. Lakes have been dredged, eroded banks re-profiled and sluices repaired.
Overgrown yew hedges have been cut back and re-aligned, and obscured vistas reopened.
Thousands of trees and shrubs have been planted and woodland managed with an emphasis
on encouraging wildlife. Nature conservation is given a high profile with special
measures taken to protect and encourage bats, deer, wild flowers, birds, bees,
water creatures, insects and small mammals.
In 1992 the estate was awarded the prestigious Silver Medal of Honour from Europa Nostra for its superb restoration of the landscape and ornamental buildings, and for the creation of the Visitor Centre.
Since then the estate’s completed conservation projects include the restoration of the 1½-mile long Abbey Precinct Wall, the 5 mile long Deer Park Wall and work on the Seven Bridges Valley, as well as continuing the on-going programme of woodland management and tree planting.
In 1992 the estate was awarded the prestigious Silver Medal of Honour from Europa Nostra for its superb restoration of the landscape and ornamental buildings, and for the creation of the Visitor Centre.
Since then the estate’s completed conservation projects include the restoration of the 1½-mile long Abbey Precinct Wall, the 5 mile long Deer Park Wall and work on the Seven Bridges Valley, as well as continuing the on-going programme of woodland management and tree planting.
Conservation of this huge estate is a continuous process and currently there
is a £4 million backlog of work to do, including restoration of Fountains Hall,
conservation and restoration of the Water Garden, the Seven Bridges Valley and
other areas of the estate.
The National Trust receives no financial backing from the government and relies
almost entirely on voluntary contributions in the form of donations, legacies
and membership fees, to keep properties open as well as to conserve, restore and
care for them.
