1. Dr Ian M Varndell
Chairman, Devon Gardens Trust
Board Member, The Gardens Trust

3. Charitable companies limited by guarantee, established for many years operating in the same space – the designed landscape – with very similar Aims and charitable Objects. Each managed by a board of Trustees. Reliant on volunteers. A recent history of working together – JCC – HLP etc.
Umbrella organisation with 35 affiliated CGTs Independent organisation with members
Members are individually constituted and varied Members of a single organisation
Research/conservation varies; frequently high quality Research is academic & sometimes esoteric
Some CGTs engage with planning Statutory consultee for gardens and parks
Significant funding from Historic England (EH) Significant funding from Historic England (EH)
Volunteer base Some paid employees, insufficient to meet ‘obligations’
Both organisations identified a reduction in external core funding – PSR – limited alternatives

4. Perceived benefits of a merger Perceived problems of a merger
A single entity protecting and promoting the designed landscape – clearer for LPAs, funders, heritage policy makers
Likelihood of retaining some external funding to support core activities
A large volunteer base to respond to planning applications affecting local designed landscapes
A stronger platform for the Statutory Consultee
Cost saving
Perceived problems of a merger
The two organisations followed own interests for many years with certain degree of animosity
1200+ individual members paying £35 min. (GHS) vs. 35 CGT members paying fee + capitation
Several publications annually (GHS) vs. Yearbook and occasional publications (AGT)
“GHS taking over the AGT to get CGTs to do for free what the GHS should be doing with paid staff”

5. Background to the Merger of the GHS and AGT
Discussions on how to work more closely together begin
‘Working Together’ strategy commences – JCC and HLP being key successes
Project Board tasked with negotiating the details of the merger
Vote ‘in principle’ to merge agreed at the AGMs of both organisations
Transitional Board tasked with structuring the legal framework for the merger the Name | the Articles of Association | the Initial Business Plan | the Initial Financials
Merger website created and publicised | Consultations commenced
Vote to merge agreed at the AGT and GHS AGMs in Newcastle-upon-Tyne (24 July)
24 CGTs in favour
7 CGTs against
1 CGT abstained
3 CGTs did not engage
First Board of 12 voted in en masse – equal representation from CGTs and GHS (24 July)
Interim website – launched (31 July)
First Full Board meeting (16 September)

8. The main concerns
Why the need to merge to create a single organisation?
Name – The Gardens Trust
Benefits of membership
The Business Plan
Statutory Consultee status
What is expected – or worse – assumed that the CGTs will perform
If you have other issues please raise them for discussion

9. Why the need?
The designed landscape is under increasing pressure from unsympathetic development – housing, infrastructure, power sources (fracking, wind turbines, solar farms) and a passionate, vociferous group, able to share and learn from cases around the country makes for a stronger voice to minimise impact.
A single unified voice for the designed landscape is important when dealing with planners (LPAs, HER), policy makers (at local, regional and national level) and other ‘like-minded’ groups with whom we may need/wish to collaborate, e.g. CPRE, Natural England, the Heritage Alliance, CB300, CBF16, HHA, NT, WT, CWTs, Georgian Society etc.
Central funding for heritage is under threat – the 2015 PSR is likely to impact Historic England and in turn this will result in less funding for groups, programmes and projects. It is also wrong to believe that HE can – or should – support the same organisations indefinitely. Fundraising is a priority for The Gardens Trust and, together, a more compelling case for potential funders is made

10. Why the name?
The name for the new Trust was always going to be emotive.
The Transitional Committee took the view that it should be:
Short and simple with no competing abbreviation
Should have gravitas and be memorable
The GHS specifically requested that ‘History’ or ‘Heritage’ should NOT appear in the name
The objects include supporting the creation of new gardens, not just historic landscapes
Not restricted by national boundaries
Appropriate URL must be available
THE GARDENS TRUST was selected

11. Benefits of membership
Must not be reduced and, if possible, should be enhanced
It was agreed early on that the annual subscription for CGTs to join the new Trust, and the capitation fee should not be increased…..
Thus, any enhancement in benefits to CGTs must be resourced from reserves, from the GHS membership, or from third parties
CGTs will receive 5-6 copies of publications prepared for, and distributed to, Individual Members (= enhanced membership for CGT members)
CGTs are, by affiliation to The Gardens Trust, able to claim “association” with the Statutory Consultee (wording to be approved)

12. The Business Plan
The Transitional Committee had no executive authority to impose a financial burden on the First Board, but it was imperative that a business plan was created to set the task for the First Board, hence a one year plan was produced
It would have been disingenuous to take two organisations with static or declining reserves and show that merging would, in the first year, return the new organisation to surplus for the following reasons:
Direct costs of merging
Legal fees, advisory costs regarding employment etc.
Creation of a new website and rebranding all publications
Indirect costs
Project and Transitional Committee travel
It is the First Board’s intention to work towards cashflow neutrality, with initiatives to cut costs and raise funding where it is appropriate for the Aims and Objects
to be promoted

13. Statutory Consultee status
There is no central funding for Statutory Consultees
The Department of Communities and Local Government has added THE GARDENS TRUST to the list of Statutory Consultees as the successor organisation of the Garden History Society
Leaflet………..

14. What do we hope the CGTs will do
Support TGT in the same way that you supported the AGT
Help TGT to preserve and protect the designed landscape in each county and country by responding to planning applications that will continue to be notified via the Casework Log
Help TGT and HLP to measure the success of involvement by notifying the Casework Officer of responses and outcomes
Help TGT to publicise successes and failures via TGT website, publications, social media etc.
Tell TGT what you “need” – we cannot promise anything other than we will listen and consider, but it is important we understand what the barriers are (if any)

15. My contact details Ian Varndell membership@thegardenstrust.org