Goals of the Tregaron Conservancy

The purpose of our organization is not only to hold the land as open space, but to restore the property to its original landscape and historical designs through the employment of historical consultants, landscape architects and horticulturalists. In the past, the Friends of Tregaron retained Robinson &Associates for historical research and documentation, and EDAW for landscape architecture services.

In addition, we have worked with the renowned Patricia O’Donnell of Heritage Landscapes and the Tregaron Conservancy will continue to seek Ms O’Donnell’s guidance and involvement in the rehabilitation of the Estate. Heritage Landscapes, a nationally and internationally recognized preservation landscape architecture and planning firm, prepared a detailed Cultural Landscape Report (“CLR”) (pdf 104mb) for the historic landscape of Tregaron Estate. The completion of the Cultural Landscape report was funded by the Dorothea de Schweinitz Preservation Fund of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

The Tregaron Cultural Landscape Report serves the valuable purpose of providing a comprehensive study of landscape of a historically significant property. This compilation of landscape focused historical research, period plans, existing conditions documentation, integrity and character assessment, and landscape preservation treatment recommendations. The CLR provides a sound basSis for undertaking preservation treatment, interpretation and management in the future. With its original sketches, plans, historical photos, aerials, maps, and current condition pictures, the Tregaron Cultural Landscape Report is a tour de force.

The CLR analyzed the landscape and it existing conditions in great detail. The report concluded that “[t]he overall historic character of a carefully choreographed, highly articulated and well-cared for landscape has also changed to a landscape in biotic release with notable drainage and water management problems and an apparent lack of care and degradation. In summary, while the historic significance of the landscape is high, the integrity as found today is low.” (Heritage Landscape’s Tregaron Cultural Landscape Report, December 2005, p. IV.2)

The CLR’s Rehabilitation Plan recommends the following steps:

• Conservation and repair of all historic stone structures of walls, bridges and steps
• Reconstruction of wider bridle paths and narrower woodland trails
• Stabilization and repair of pond edge, pond inlet and outlet, and stream course to include piped sections
• Woodland renewal work of several types
• Attention around historic buildings to recapture elements of landscape character and conserve remaining features

The Tregaron Conservancy is dedicated to stopping the deterioration of the historic estate. The Conservancy will lead a carefully planned and direction campaign of phased actions to repair, stabilize and recapture aspects of this historically significant landscape.

After discussions and advice of many experts, the Tregaron Conservancy has engaged a local landscape architect, Ellen Shillinglaw, who has a vast education and terrific experience with cultural landscapes, to oversee the rehabilitation project. Arborists and horticulturalists are in the process of preparing project proposals. We will deeply involve the community in this restoration project and we will educate the public in environmental protection and preservation of natural landscaping – in this case nearly 20 acres of woodlands, meadows, streams and wetlands.