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About The Living Landscape
Trust
Founded in 1986 by The Duke of Buccleuch and The Earl of
Dalkeith, The Living Landscape Trust represents a continuity
of their commitment to conserve the British countryside. The
Trust seeks to further this aim by promoting - to an
increasingly urban population - greater awareness of the
countryside's vital place in the Nation's heritage. It
provides, on the Boughton Estate, access and information for
a public that is rightly becomming ever more aware of
environmental issues and dangers. Interested individuals and
groups with a concern for the countryside can employ the
facilities of The Living Landscape Trust to hear, see and
discuss matters related to the past, present and future
management of the countryside.
The Living Landscape Trust strives to demonstrate that
different land usages - such as efficient food and timber
production - can harmonise with the conservation of flora
and fauna, public recreation and sport, for the social and
economic well-being of the whole community. To this end, The
Trust has enhanced accessibility and interpretation at
Boughton House, providing opportunities for the study of
country life and its place in the national heritage.
Although the term "national heritage" is usually applied to
historic houses and their contents, it is equally relevant
to our landscape, its wildlife, and the people in its
village communities; people who form the most important
element in what we call "the countryside".
It is in this context that The Living Landscape Trust
continues the traditions of a rural estate - under one
family's stewardship for nearly half a millenium - in
preserving its identity as part of the national heritage,
and by providing instructive and rewarding access to many of
the fascinating aspects of the countryside.
Why Boughton?
The Boughton Estate is uniquely qualified to offer a lead
in bringing about a closer understanding between town and
country:
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The Estate is renowned as a model of progressive
and efficient land management; an estate that has,
for centuries, recognised the importance of
wildlife conservation, landscape enhancement,
public amenity, recreation and sport as an adjunct
to commercially-dynamic food and timber production.
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Boughton House, for almost 500 years the nerve
centre of estate development by one family, is -
with its contents - internationally famed as one of
the finest examples of cultural achievement. Thus
it provides an ideal setting to demonstrate the
cohesion between an historic house, its grounds and
landscape. An environment, the perfection of which
has been the preoccupation of many generations,
culminating in prospects of trees and avenues over
280 years old, and tranquil villages with churches
and houses of outstanding merit and charm.
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Boughton Estate has an unsurpassed record of
working both with and for the local community. Not
only has it created much of the beauty of the local
landscape - with trees, spinneys, woodlands and
avenues - but actively replaces lost specimens as
well as continuing to plant many new hedges and
hedgerow trees. Throughout the years, it has made a
major contrubution to the maintenance of churches
and cottages of special merit; donated a playing
field and public park at Geddington to the local
community; provided land for a golf course;
assisted the conversion of Newton Church into a
Field Centre; opened-up miles of public footpaths;
created picnic areas; and made The Park accessible
for public enjoyment. All of this has only been
financially possible due to the efficient husbandry
of the land by a dedicated team: this comprises
members of the Montagu Douglas Scott family, estate
managers, office administrators, farm workers,
foresters, gamekeepers, gardeners and building
craftsmen - all working together to ensure a proud
and thriving rural community.
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Boughton and its expert team have already led
the way with Estate Open Days for schools, which,
over 20 years, have demonstrated in action every
department of the Estate to Northamptonshire
schoolchildren between 7 and 13. In 1983, these
efforts were marked by the coveted national
Countryside Award, sponsored jointly by The
Countryside Commission and The Country Landowners
Association, for "the greatest contribution to
improved understanding between town and country".
This has now been further augmented by the 1988,
1993 & 1998 Sandford Awards for educational
achievement.
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Although field studies have, traditionally, been an
integral aspect of most school curricula, they have usually
formed separate studies within given subject areas. The
introduction of new syllabi, with their stress on individual
learning experience, has brought greater importance than
ever to out-of-school studies. The Living Landscape Trust is
endeavouring to make environmental work at Boughton equally
accessible, enjoyable and educational for all levels of
academic study and all ages of student. Within a
comparatively small area, it has facilities suitable for
students to study environmental topics - either in
individual depth or as part of a wider programme - to suit
any curricular requirement.
Work on the Estate continues through the seasons,
providing opportunities for study all year round.
Facitities include:
- Large lecture hall
- Smaller seminar / classroom
- Toilet facilities
- Picnic areas
- Teacher information packs
- Expert assistance from Estate staff
- Supervised access to all working areas of the Estate
- Full disabled access
- No charges for educational visits
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