Record Keeping Where are we? The aims & issues?

…… A small group usually between 3 and 6 researchers led by Gay Chamberlayne meet on the first Thursday of each month at the county Archive in Gloucester. They spend as long or as short a time as they wish investigating, photographing and photocopying information about historic gardens and landscapes – sometimes of their own choosing and sometimes in response to particular threats or pressures (eg (anticipated) planning application; county plan designations) or forthcoming events (visits, celebrations such as CB300). This has not always been the method for site selection. During the ?1990s parishes within the Cotswold DC area received most attention as an agreement between the Council and the Trust provided an annual payment of???£ for their research This arrangement ceased around ?2003 as funding cutbacks began to take effect. For many years these were housed in the offices of a local landscape architectural practice in Cheltenham where the Trust also had use of a desk and telephone. This arrangement came to an end around 2010 and in 2012 when the practice moved to new offices the Trust packed up its circa 350 files -arranged alphabetically within DC area - and moved them to temporary homes dispersing them amongst 5 or 6 Trust members while considering what to do with all these files.

Cost efficient storage Maximum accessibility – inside & INITIAL AIMS Cost efficient storage Maximum accessibility – inside & outside the Trust Sustainable solution

ISSUES Paper files & digital images not integrated Statement of significance Copyright Interfaces with HER and UK P&G Privacy Variable file format Quality control System administrator

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS Electronically searchable research Improved professional profile Increased engagement with planners and planning decisions

NOTES A small group usually between 3 and 6 researchers led by Gay Chamberlayne meet on the first Thursday of each month at the county Archive in Gloucester. They spend as long or as short a time as they wish investigating, photographing and photocopying information about historic gardens and landscapes – sometimes of their own choosing and sometimes in response to particular threats or pressures (eg (anticipated) planning application; county plan designations) or forthcoming events (visits, celebrations such as CB300). This has not always been the method for site selection. During the ?1990s parishes within the Cotswold DC area received most attention as an agreement between the Council and the Trust provided an annual payment of???£ for their research This arrangement ceased around ?2003 as funding cutbacks began to take effect. For many years these were housed in the offices of a local landscape architectural practice in Cheltenham where the Trust also had use of a desk and telephone. This arrangement came to an end around 2010 and in 2012 when the practice moved to new offices the Trust packed up its circa 350 files -arranged alphabetically within DC area - and moved them to temporary homes dispersing them amongst 5 or 6 Trust members while considering what to do with all these files.