Fellowships & Scholarships
2012 Damaris Horan Prize: Landscape History Fellowships
with the National Trust of England, Wales and Northern Ireland
The Royal Oak Foundation is pleased to announce two residential fellowships with the National Trust of England, Wales & Northern Ireland. The Damaris Horan Prize, established by The Mudge Foundation and named for Royal Oak's Executive Director from 1987 to 2003, provides training and educational opportunities for individuals with a professional interest in the history, management and conservation of historic landscapes and gardens. These Fellowships will offer unique opportunities to learn from the National Trust's extensive resources and expertise.
“We are overjoyed to continue our relationship with The Royal Oak Foundation in 2012,” said Mike Calnan, National Trust Head of Gardens and Parks. “It is so important to maintain this trans-Atlantic sharing of experience and knowledge. Our previous Horan Fellowships have been very positive experiences for both the individuals and the National Trust and have resulted in new scholarship or important contributions to NT plant management.”
Fellowship 1: Project to study health threats to Woody Plant Collection at the National Trust
The National Trust's 200 gardens contain one of the world's most diverse and important collections of plants. Preserving this remarkable biodiversity becomes more urgent every day, as plants are increasingly threatened-by climate change, pests, diseases and human activity.
This year sees the opening of the NT's new Plant Conservation Programme's (PCP) propagation facilities in Devon and the launch of a project based in South West England to study the implications of new plant health threats against the National Trust's major plant collections.
With the increase in global trade and travel, various plant diseases and pathogen species have become established in the UK and caused damage to a wide range of plant species at National Trust properties-gardens, forestry, woodland, and heaths have all been subjected to epidemic infections. Of particular concern are the Phytophthora fungal pathogens including Phytophthora ramorum which has been found at over 30 National Trust properties.
The Project
- This project will first evaluate the National Trust's management of key woody plant collections at regional properties in Cornwall-in order to gain a better understanding of how husbandry and curation might help lessen the risk to plant conservation, thereby better protecting NT collections and improve general conservation performance
- Working with the senior NT gardeners and property staff, the Horan scholar will focus their study on a selected group of gardens in the South West with key plant collections
- The Fellow will produce a short report on following practices: bio-security, collection management, husbandry, recycling and succession planning at the properties
- The Fellow will develop a questionnaire, to be distributed to the 32 NT gardens with key plant collections, evaluating current practice, management processes and resources against the risk from known and predicted pests and diseases
- Send a detailed written report about the project and fellowship experience to the Royal Oak Foundation no later than mid-September
Benefits to Recipient
- Participation in and key contribution towards the action management plan for managing NT plant collections in gardens with key woody plant areas
- Experience working with specialist National Trust staff
- Familiarization with conservation and pest management practices in the UK
- Opportunity to liaise with National Trust Gardens and Parks staff
- Visits to NT gardens in the South West as required by the project including: Glendurgan, Trelllissick, Saltram, Killerton, Knightshayes, Stourhead and other regional properties
- Arranged visit to the Eden Project and the “Lost Garden of Heligan”
Supervision and Location
Accommodation and a car for transportation will be provided. Accommodation will be at the Plant Conservation Programme, Talaton near Honiton Devon.
The fellow will be supervised by Head Gardener Ian Wright, Garden Consultant South West and Plant Health Advisor at the National Trust South West Region Office at Lanhydrock, Bodmin Hub, Cornwall.
Candidate Requirements
The ideal candidate will have some knowledge of green gardening and the spread of invasive plant pathogens on plant collections. He/she will also be an independent worker with good organizational and communication skills. He/she will need a valid U.S. driver's license or International Driver's license.
Start Date: By mid-May 2012
Fellowship 2: Mount Stewart Gardens and Lady Londonderry's planting scheme
This 8-week fellowship will focus on the planting history at Mount Stewart in Northern Ireland, one of Europe's most important and influential gardens. Famed around the world for their grandeur and bold planting, the garden's uniqueness is a legacy of their creator, Edith, Lady Londonderry. This fellow will research Lady Edith's Garden Books and Diaries to investigate and document the historical planting scheme.
When Edith, Lady Londonderry moved to Mt. Stewart permanently with her husband Viscount Castlereagh, the 7th Marquess of Londonderry, after the First World War, she immediately set about transforming the gardens.
Previously, the gardens had been plain lawns with large decorative pots. Lady Londonderry added the Shamrock Garden, the Sunken Garden, increased the size of the lake, added a Spanish Garden, the Italian Garden, the Dodo Terrace, and the Menagerie among other areas. The mild climate of Strangford Lough allowed for an astonishing level of planting experimentation and the result was an exceptional expression of Lady Edith's love of bold colors and garden design talent. The formal areas of the garden exude a strong Mediterranean feel and resemble an Italian villa landscape; the wooded areas support a range of plants from all corners of the world, ensuring something to see whatever the season.
The goal of the fellowship project is to research Lady Edith's garden diaries from 1930 until 1957-when she gave the gardens to the National Trust-noting the historical planting scheme and which plants were associated with each area. The resulting report will inform the current renovations to the gardens. The fellow will also investigate how Lady Edith rationalized the design of the garden in the face of diminishing labor and post-war austerity at Mount Stewart.
The Project
- Research Lady Londonderry's Garden Books and Diaries from 1930 to 1956 and investigate family photographs and early films of the garden
- Develop a report for each year recording which plants were associated with each garden area at Mount Stewart. This report will follow the report format from the diary research already completed (from 1924 to 1930).
- Write a report focusing on Lady Londonderry's garden management during and post World War II, considering factors such as diminishing labor, rising costs, unavailability of materials etc.
- Present the findings to NT management and conservation team
- Work on ongoing NT projects including identifying unidentified plants in our collection.
- Send a detailed written report about the project and fellowship experience to the Royal Oak Foundation no later than mid-September
Benefits to Recipient
- Participation in and contribution towards a the interpretation of an internationally renowned garden and restoration project
- Chance to research private primary source material from the history of an early 20th century English garden
- Experience working with specialist National Trust staff and garden management team
- Experience working with specialist National Trust staff and garden management team
- Opportunity to liaise with National Trust Gardens and Parks staff and consultants on advisory visits around regional Northern Irish National Trust properties
- Scheduled visit to Giant's Causeway
Supervision and Location
The fellow will be supervised and supported by Neil Porteous, Head of Gardens, Mount Stewart. The fellow will also be a part of the Mount Stewart team and will be encouraged to participate in National Trust events at the property during the fellowship
Most of the work will be based at Mt. Stewart. Accommodation for the duration of the Fellowship will be in the School House at Mount Stewart and work on the diaries will be in the house.
Candidate Requirements
The ideal candidate will have some familiarity with Mount Stewart and/or knowledge of English garden history. He/she should be an independent worker with good organizational and writing/communication skills. He/she will need a valid U.S. driver's license or International Driver's license.
Start Date: By mid-May 2012
HORAN PRIZE APPLICATION GUIDELINES
Who Should Apply
Applications are welcome from graduates with Bachelor's or Master's degree in one of the following recommended areas: landscape design, horticulture, history, museum education or environmental management. Applications are encouraged from individuals with at least three years of professional experience in one of the aforementioned areas. Citizens of the United States or permanent residents are eligible to apply. Applicants will need an international drivers license prior to the Fellowship and be comfortable with periodically driving alone.
Click here to download a printable Fellowship application.
Fellowship Stipend
For the fellowship period, each fellow will receive an educational stipend of $5,500 to be paid in three installments. Each fellow will also receive a travel subsidy up to $1500 for international and train travel. Additional money for Inter-U.K. car rental (if required or not provided by NT) and petrol costs will be subsidized up to $2000 with submission of written rental estimate.
Fellow will be responsible for travel arrangements, food and other personal expenses associated with the fellowship. Fellow is responsible for car rental if required except for study trips for which local NT staff will provide transport. Accommodation will be provided. A non-refundable fee of $35 must be submitted with each application. Each applicant will receive a Royal Oak Foundation SYP membership
Application Deadline
The application deadline is March 30, 2012, and the Fellowship will take place during the Summer of 2012 at a mutually agreeable period between May and September. Successful applicants will be notified in mid April.
Final Report from 2007 Damaris Horan Prize Fellowship
For more information, please email landscapeprize@royal-oak.org.
