Management of Horticultural Constituents in Monuments of Garden Art
The basic point of reference here are the fundamental international documents for heritage preservation that the Czech Republic has signed.
These are especially the Venice Charter of 1964 (an international charter for the preservation and restoration of historic objects and sites) and the Florence Charter of 1981 (for the preservation of historic gardens), which in Article 1 defines historic gardens as ‘architectural and horticultural compositions of historical or artistic significance’ as such considered elements of cultural heritage. This document also mentions vegetal material, in forma live constituents of the composition of a perishable nature, and hence also the necessity of their renewal and specifics of the approach. It also enumerates individual elements of architectonic composition pertaining to gardens, and unambiguously emphasises the necessity of conceiving of gardens and parks as inseparable parts of a structure, creating a valuable complex together.
The protection and renewal of such heritage sites and their components requires a very specific approach, with the aim of preserving the greatest authenticity.
The highest possible honour and protection is reserved for monuments of garden art ranked on the UNESCO World Heritage List (see Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage of 1972). Historic gardens and parks have been included on the UNESCO List for their exceptional value, and it is our collective responsibility to conserve these distinguished values for the future, which means preserving them so that they retain the given criteria. A 'management plan' - for the administration of the monument - serves this purpose. It also contains wider bearing on the surroundings and fixes the limits and restrictions necessary to comply with, including delimitations and presentation of the heritage sites.
In the complex of gardens at Kroměřiž - the Flower Garden and the Lower Castle Gardens - a so-called showcase renovation is underway, due to the National Centre for Garden Culture being based here. Apart from offering exemplary heritage restoration and a diverse scale of activities suitable to UNESCO monuments, this project will simultaneously become a methodological, specialist and educational centre.
The use of correct terminology is rather important, whether in relation to compositional description, or the renovation process in garden and park projects. Nowadays, the often-misused term 'reconstruction' is hardly ever used, having been replaced by terms such as adaptation, improvement, evocation, conservation, regeneration, rehabilitation, renovation, reminiscence, restitution and stabilisation.
The formation or renovatition of parks and gardens should always be viewed as a long-term process undergoing constant change and development, where one works with variable living components, and where the result is a complex work of art. The basic structure blends in with and is opportunely supplemented by horticultural constituents, and is also enriched by fauna, in such a way that it forms one compositional whole.
Certain fundamentals and guidelines for upkeep, conservation, restoration or rehabilitation may be found again in the Florence Charter. Individual articles unequivocally imply the necessity of continual upkeep of all the elements of historic gardens/parks, including the architectonic and sculptural constituents and mobile features that form the embellishment. Historic gardens and parks must be preserved in a suitable environment and ecological equilibrium. This includes also infrastructure such as the road/path network and parking spaces, technical networks, including watering systems, fencing and facilities.
Prior to embarking on any work, it is always wise to collect all the relevant necessary data. Whilst preparing for a renovation project of a monument of garden art (designated as a cultural, or even National Cultural Property), it is appropriate to follow a design based on structural archaeological research on said property. These days, garden archaeological research should also be included in the initial relevant data. Then a study is made, followed by working (implementation) documentation. It is possible to plan the whole project in stages and accomplish it within time and financial limits. Throughout the stages of documentation and implementation, every step has to be consulted with the National Heritage Authorities. Even in the early stages of the renovation it must be apparent how the subsequent maintenance will be done. Such maintenance work is essential to sustain the aims of the renovation, and hence may not be neglected or disregarded. Another element of the relevant information to be taken into account beforehand is the particular subsequent use (specialist, cultural and the choice of suitable visitor activities). The subsequent well-chosen presentation of the site then becomes a part of the renovated complex's existence.
The experience of the last few decades has shown that its necessary to conduct a periodic information campaign concerning historic gardens and parks so that both the specialist and lay public are sufficiently informed, in good time, about the current condition, design of the renovation, and the subsequent use. The information must also contain an explanation indicating why the rehabilitative interventions are or are not necessarily returning the monument of garden art to its original condition at the time of its creation.
In all likelihood the present brings with it the necessity of functional changes for historic gardens and parks. These are possible, however it is necessary to consider their extent with sensitivity.
If a historic garden has disappeared, or only its fragmentary remains exist, its renovation takes on evocative character.
One important, although often overlooked, fact is the accessibility of historic parks and gardens, in the sense of their opening times; it seems essential to set exact opening and closing times, with regular night time closing, preferably with night watchmen present. Visitor rules and regulations ought to be set up, too, including penalties for breaking them.