Trees and paths in historical Austrian gardens - Understanding and restoring existing horticultural structures to ensure sustained preservation and expert use of listed gardens

Objectives of the project: The project on ¿trees and paths in historical Austrian gardens¿ aims to preserve and maintain paths, trees and shrubs in historical parks and gardens. It aims to properly document and analyse selected specimens of surviving historical gardens. The horticultural know-how and traditional craftsmanship expressed in such gardens are to be preserved as historic reference and ¿green archives¿ for today¿s gardeners, and thus saved from destruction through inadequate care, insufficient knowledge and overmaturity. Central concern is to be given to identifying the layout and care of trees, shrubs and paths, with due regard to their former functions for the garden, their topography and their arboricultural importance and use. The findings will be applied to the theory and practice of basic research into the preservation of listed gardens and in teaching at university level. Benefits of the project: The project is intended to contribute to future-proof methods for preserving listed gardens. In addition to documenting existing trees, shrubs and paths, much consideration is given to training, regenerating and repair methods used in earlier times, aiming to reactivate traditional, often locally developed gardening methods. Project co-ordinators for the trees and shrubs focus: Dr. Rupert Doblhammer Project co-ordinators for the paths focus: Dr. Anita Drexel