1. INTRODUCTION

What are parklands?
Parklands are enclosed areas of land with an open cover of scattered trees, under and between which is grazed grassland or other grazed vegetation. They are a particular feature of the UK, being more abundant here than elsewhere in Europe.

Parklands are often of great antiquity, having been enclosed in medieval times from areas of original forest cover, usually for the purpose of deer hunting. Other parks may be more recent, having been designed and laid out from pre-existing landscapes in the 17th or 18th centuries. Subsequently many have been further modified by landowners as ornamental landscapes, or places for recreation. Some are under intensive agricultural use.

Parkland habitats
The mix of trees and grazed grassland provides a habitat of particular interest ecologically, especially as parkland trees, being open-grown, often achieve great stature and age. Communities of invertebrates, lichens, fungi and other groups can be of international importance. Parklands, along with wood pasture, have accordingly been identified as a priority habitat in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan.

Parklands also have many other equally significant values, as historic and designed landscapes, as settings for historic houses and as popular places for public access.

National Trust survey
The National Trust owns some 150 parks and is responsible for their condition. The Trust's own Biological Surveys of parks had indicated that many were in a poor condition from a nature conservation and tree health point of view. Trees were being damaged and dying; features of nature conservation value were being damaged. The main cause was livestock grazing management. The Trust therefore commissioned a study to investigate livestock grazing in more detail, and to provide management recommendations. This was carried out by Jonathan Cox Associates, and was based on a sample of 26 National Trust parks - this sample covered a broad range of both good and bad examples.

It is hoped that the material in this report will be useful to people interested in parkland management and restoration, not only for nature conservation but for other objectives, such as landscape history and recreation, as well.