Renowned historian and landscape expert Dr Peter Burman MBE was the guest speaker at Haddington and District Amenity Society’s (HADAS) Frank Tindall Lecture last Wednesday.

The annual lecture, in memory of the county’s planning officer from 1950 to 1975, was this year given by Dr Burman, chairman of the Garden History Society for Scotland.

Dr Burman – who was on the Historic Environment Advisory Council for Scotland for the six years of its existence, taught in universities in Britain and Germany, was director of conservation of the National Trust for Scotland for five years, and is a board member of the Built Environment Forum for Scotland – gave a talke entitled ‘Not just the buildings – Scotland’s First Garden Town’.

Dr Burman made an impassioned plea for Haddington to be named as Scotland’s first ‘Gardens and Landscapes Town’, highlighting its unique relationship with the cultural landscapes which surround it – agricultural, natural and designed.

He spoke, in particular, about the traditional agricultural landscape around Haddington which had great “cultural significance” – defined by the Burra Charter 1999 as “aesthetic, historic, scientific, social or spiritual value for past, present or future generations”.

Cultural landscapes in Scotland were definitely under threat, according to Dr Burman, who referred to the European Landscape Convention 2000, which the UK has signed up to but is failing to honour its commitments in many cases.

He showed examples where the failings were clear – including the threat to the 18th-century Bonnington-designed landscape and the Upper Clyde valley from the proposed Hyndford quarry extension in South Lanarkshire and the development plans for the Craighouse estate in Edinburgh.

Dr Burman talked about the challenges for Haddington and neighbourhood to retain and maintain the several designed landscapes which virtually surround the town.

He was, however, very complimentary about some of the recent achievements, including the Amisfield estate, now partly managed by Haddington Golf Club, and, in particular, the triumphant rescue of the Walled Garden by the Amisfield Preservation Trust.

Dr Burman said: “The sheer beauty and extent of the Walled Garden are extraordinary – as is the devotion of the volunteers.” He argued that the former estate clearly ought to be on Historic Scotland’s Inventory of Historic Gardens and Designed Landscape. He also expressed his delight at the beauty of St Mary’s Pleasance Garden and the adjoining historic churchyard of St Mary’s.

Dr Burman described the churchyard as “a major cultural landscape to which there are few ecclesiastical equals in Scotland – not just for the archaeological, historic, artistic and genealogical interest of the monuments but also for the exceptionally fine park trees”.

On the subject of trees, Dr Burman expressed his indebtedness to the book by local author Roger Kirby, The Trees of Haddington and District, which had propelled him on various walks, including the revelation that a bristle-cone pine tree in the garden of the lodge in Neilson Park was not only very rare but probably the largest in Britain.

Although impressed by recent public realm work around the historic centre of Haddington, he lamented that the town had very few historic street surfaces or paths.

He thought that more could be done to promote the town through signage and interpretation boards.

He spoke enthusiastically about the fountain on Court Street, comparing it favourably to German examples, and of the “stylish” new John Gray Centre.

He applauded the work of the groups behind the ‘Vision for Haddington’s Town Centre’ report, citing it as an excellent example of community engagement.

He ended his talk with a reminder that, while buildings can be listed, historic gardens and cultural landscapes are unprotected in Scottish law – yet they are amongst our greatest treasures, contributing hugely to public health and well-being.

He wondered whether Haddington could set an example and become in word and deed Scotland’s first ‘Gardens and Landscapes Town’.