State of Garden Conservation in Finland Maunu Häyrynen, Landscape Studies, University of Turku Vilnius, 6 November 2008

Historic gardens in Finland No national inventory exists Earliest data from Middle Age, no remains Earliest preserved elements from 16C Earliest preserved compositions from late 18C (estate gardens, iron works, rectories) Earliest gardens managed in original layout from early 19C (estates, public walks)

Villnäs / Louhisaari estate garden

Special characteristics Relatively late start Temporary peaks: Turku, Kristiina Finnish Barocque gardens built in Sweden Little Ice Age & wars until mid-18C Academy of Turku: Physiocratic garden Landed gentry, parvenues, scholars & priests as mediators Russian era: Western styles & Eastern plants Role of cities and state from late 19C

Fagervik: The parvenue garden

Protective legislation Antiquity Act: Theoretical protection of physical structures over 100 years old Building Conservation Act: Gardens connecting with listed buildings (new law on its way, gardens listed by own criteria?) Nature Conservation Act: Some gardens Land Use and Building Act: Main tool for protection in cities, used in a few cases National Urban Parks: Historic parks incl.

Kaivopuisto: Protected historic park?

Current situation National Board of Antiquities officially in charge, partly delegated to regional museums Ministry of Environment and regional environmental authorities: Supportive actions National Museum of Architecture responsible for receiving and keeping archival materials Municipalities in charge of planning Interest groups: Icomos/Finland, Garden Art Society, co-operation with authorities - expertise

Kaisaniemi: Concerted action

Conservation measures Inventories: Official guideline, carried out voluntarily & sporadically Restoration: State owned gardens, some public parks, long-term management plans Reconstructions: Joensuu estate garden, Rosenlund rectory garden, based on research Training: Landscape architects / HUT, Landscape Studies /Turku, polytechnics

Joensuu: Reconstructed garden

State of research Compendia & popular books & articles Academic treatises (partly published): art history, architecture & landscape architecture, ethnology, life sciences, photographic art, landscape studies Inventories and planning reports, incl. garden archaeology Exhibition catalogues International networking on its way

Garden research

Problems to be tackled Lack of information Lack of specific training Lack of coordination between actors Development impulses ignoring historic values & good conservation practices Conflicting land use interests (soft targets) New management techniques & standards As always, lack of resources

Where next?