Hieroglyphs, not Graffiti
Following our ‘Pessimist’ piece in Historic Gardens Review Number 15 about the unappreciated and dilapidated Egyptian-style fabriques in the Parc du Grand Veneur at Soisy-sur-Seine, we are delighted to report that the park is at last being taken seriously as the unique place it is.
At the Fête des Plantes at Courson, in October 2004, Jacques Hennequin of JH3D showed a model he made (see photo) of the park as it would once have been. Because the site, in the southern suburbs of Paris, is so changed, the intricate, privately-commissioned model required 140 hours of research and meticulous work. It attracted great attention, including coverage in the gardening press. Now there are hopes that the obelisks, with their fanciful hieroglyphs, and what remains of the temple-cum-ice-house will be protected and that restoration might eventually take place. (August 2005)
Quintessential Quinta – Looking hopeful for Argentinian Garden Amidst claims of corruption in officialdom, property development has in recent months been threatening a peaceful Argentinian garden that can be traced back to the 16th century. What is now the Museo Juan Martîn de Pueyrredón began life as a small-holding planted with trees, vines and olives. In the 18th century a house with a gallery overlooking the River Plate was built around a central courtyard planted with oranges and beds of aromatic herbs. In the next century this became home to General Pueyrredón, a major political figure in the liberation of Argentina, who upgraded the property to make it grander and more befitting his status. He gave the garden tree-lined walkways, classical symmetry and peach and carob trees. He also built a Grecian mirador with a panoramic view of the river.
The UK government has relented over plans to de-list the Commonwealth Institute in Kensington, which would have allowed the destruction of this interesting post-war building, listed Grade II*. Its fine landscape, where Sylvia Crowe used water and trees in a design that was at once bold and serene, would have been built over. (see HGR 14) Culture Minister Tessa Jowell told Parliament in February 2007 that,“We have no plans to introduce a bill that will give powers to demolish all or part of the buildings on the Commonwealth Institute site.” Instead, the Trustees of the Commonwealth Institute will be encouraged to work with English Heritage on a listed building consent application to be submitted to the local authority later this year. The Trustees have sold the remains of the 999-year lease back to the head landlord, Ilchester Estates, who in turn have sold to another property company, Chelsfield.
Sir Arthur Evans was perhaps the most famous classical archaeologist of the 20th century. Almost single-handed, he established that the Minoan civilization of Crete was not an invention of later legend but actually existed – indeed flourished – in the second millennium BC. His most famous discovery was the palace of King Minos at Knossos. In the heady early days of archaeology, the wealthy Evans was able to buy the entire site before excavating it. On the edge of it, in 1906, he built the Villa Ariadne to use as his home and headquarters and aroudn it he created a large Mediterranean with palm trees (Phoenix canariensis and P. dactylifera). 
Even Olympic events require planning permission under UK law. The application to hold the equestrian and modern pentathlon competitions in Greenwich Park in 2012 was submitted to Greenwich Council recently, shocking even some supporters of the project by the amount of the park that would be affected. The cross-country route, for instance (shown as dotted lines on the plan (above) inserts its twisting 6km long tentacles into almost every corner, while most of the rest of the park is taken up by the grandstands and tents. Yet, as protestors always warned, there is not enough room in the park itself for all the facilities, and the organisers are now proposing to take over further public open green space outside on nearby Blackheath (on the right of the plan). The Garden History Society has written to Greenwich Council formally objecting to the plans. The GHS points out that “even temporary” events can have an impact which extends far beyond the conclusion of the temporary event; in some cases … so severe that the damage is permanent.” Details of the planning application and objections can be downloaded from
An Englishman spends 40 years creating a huge landscape garden with follies in the mountainous jungles of Mexico’s Huesteca Region. Have we perhaps discovered a hitherto unknown novel by Graham Greene or an unpublished Gabriel García Márquez? No. It’s for real. Edward James, the poet and wealthy patron of Surrealism, who already owned West Dean in Sussex, bought the Las Posas ranch at Xilitla in 1944 and, in collaboration with Plutarco Gasbélum Esquer, spent the next 40 years creating a sort of Surrealist Stowe or buffo Bomarzo – a park with canals, pools, and, above all, nearly 40 different follies (above), built in concrete, most of which were left unfinished at his death. 
But today these cypresses are in a sorry state; many are dead or dying, while others have rotten limbs which must surely pose a danger to the many families who come to enjoy the garden at weekends. There is no apparent programme of tree care, and no sign of replacement trees being planted. The same lack of attention to detail is seen in the sunken rectangles farthest away from the central canal; here there seems to be no attempt at planting. Shortage of funds cannot be at the root of the problem, since each of the many visitors pays for entrance. Why then is this great treasure of Persian garden art being so neglected? Rory Stuart (December 2009)