The Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland is a listing of gardens and designed landscapes of national artistic and/or historical significance, in Scotland. The Inventory was originally compiled in 1987, although it is a continually evolving list. From 1991 it was maintained by Historic Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage, and is now updated by a dedicated team [2] within Historic Environment Scotland. As of 2016 the Inventory includes over 300 sites across Scotland.[3]
Unlike listed building status, there is no statutory basis for the Inventory, and inclusion of a site on the Inventory does not offer any legal protection. However, under the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 2013, planning authorities are required to consult Historic Environment Scotland on "development which may affect a historic garden or designed landscape".[4] This is confirmed in Scottish Planning Policy, and the inclusion of a site on the Inventory is a material consideration in planning terms.[4]
The majority of the Inventory sites are estate or park landscapes associated with country houses. However, a wide variety of other types of site are included, including cemeteries, urban parks, and small gardens, where these are of historical significance. Examples include Benmore Botanic Garden in Argyll,[5] Duthie Park in Aberdeen,[6] the Balmoral Castle estate in Deeside,[7] and Ian Hamilton Finlay's garden at Little Sparta in Lanarkshire.[8]
Sites are selected and graded based on seven value-based criteria. These are:[9]
Each site is assessed, on a scale of none—little—some—high—outstanding, for each criterion, using guidance set out in the Historic Environment Policy Statement.[10]
Separate registers of parks, gardens and designed landscapes are maintained in the other countries of the United Kingdom:
