Through the CSGC project we aimed to address this problem by identifying best practice in the various fields of Garden Conservation and sharing it through various bodies of Vocational Education and Training as well as professional horticultural associations. Whilst some countries have retained expertise in certain specialisms, others have not and were searching for guidance, whilst yet more have been researching the increasing relevance of historic techniques to our current challenges. This is important knowledge and skills that requires broad dissemination if we are to build and retain the necessary expertise in Europe.
Our experiences from previous projects had proved to us that transnational collaboration is valuable. “Differences are a good base for innovation” is a saying we have based some of our EU-funded projects on. In this project, we wanted to join forces with like-minded and ambitious actors in Europe who are keen to make a difference within the field of Vocational Education and Training. The focus of this project was on horticulture and cultural heritage, and how to best support lifelong learning by creating flexible learning pathways for vocational skills within garden conservation. With green spaces playing a major role in our health and well-being during the covid crisis, it is ever more important that we have the skills to protect them from climate change, as well as the knowledge of sustainable techniques to reduce carbon emissions whilst doing so. Heritage gardens encapsulate a significant amount of the natural and cultural capital that sustains humans during a time of crisis: tranquillity, beauty, productivity and biodiversity. Safeguarding these values require specialised knowledge and skills.