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Tutor: Laura Mayer
Date: Friday 12 June 2026
Time: 6 - 8:30 pm
Cost: £30
Location: Online


During the first part of the eighteenth century, the garden underwent a gradual transformation from geometric formalism to pastoral Arcadian idyll. This shift in landscaping style mirrored the political, intellectual and stylistic revolutions of the century, as authoritarianism was rejected in favour of something looser and more natural. Yet this complex and fascinating period of British garden history is frequently raced through, in a bid to reach the perceived apex of the style, and the minimal designs of Lancelot Brown and his contemporaries. This lecture focuses on the early informal landscape, and considers the fledgling ‘rural gardening’ style and ferme ornée promoted by men like Philip Southcote and Alexander Pope. It highlights the ingenuity of Stephen Switzer, who believed that the extortionate upkeep of geometric, axial designs could be solved simply by laying the whole country open to view. This notion ultimately transformed the way landscape was viewed forever, and encouraged every designer from Batty Langley to William Kent to embrace informality and build increasingly less structured gardens.

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If you need to cancel your booking, please inform the Learning Office in writing as soon as possible at 1 Brookside, Cambridge CB2 1JE or email education@botanic.cam.ac.uk The cancellation is effective from the date that your written confirmation is received. If you cancel with more than 4 weeks' notice we will refund your balance less 20% to cover administration. For cancellations made with less than 4 weeks' notice we regret that we are unable to make any refund unless we can fill your place on the course. If we are able to fill your place we will refund your balance less 20% to cover administration.

Amendments

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