terials such as softwood plank fences or fir hedges enclose these spaces and offer no clue as to local identity. In the Midlands, hedge laying, or 'plashing', is a local specialty, dating back to the days when stout enclosures were needed to keep stock in. Nowadays, as a society, we want things to happen as soon as possible, so fewer people will plant such hedges, as they take longer to establish than the dreaded Leylandii. As a result, such skills begin to die out, local wildlife may suffer, and local identity fades yet further. With increasing concerns about our environment (qv Ken Davis' article on energy conservation, Context57 p39), we should think long and hard about historic landscapes of the future. These should use long-lasting and environmentally friendly materials and plants. As our climate becomes drier (although that is currently under debate in the Midland counties, post April floods!), new landscapes need to be created, which can survive more arid conditions. Either brown grass must come to be seen as aesthetically attractive, or alternatives need to be tried. Many keen gardeners today spend disproportionate amounts of time and money on environmentally unfriendly peat and other products in an attempt to Context58 June1998 A shared landscape, Orange County, California. grow exotic species, which are used to climatic conditions far removed from those to be found in Britain. 'Design' features reflecting local identity in both buildings and landscapes are being more widely discussed today, at householder level, thanks to schemes such as the 'Village Design Statement'. The Countryside Commission has energetically publicized this scheme, in which villagers analyze their own surroundings and ultimately produce a design document, which is passed as Supplementary Planning Guidance. For many villagers this will be the first time that they have really considered the many disparate elements, which make up the village scene. One final thought on new developments. Many 'executive' estates house couples whom both go out to work all week. Some of these people may be keen gardeners, but many are not. Do the British cling steadfastly to the concept of having an enclosed plot, or would many of us welcome a new approach? In California, for example, many such estates front onto a shared area of landscape. All householders pay toward a maintenance team, which looks afterthe shared space. The houses do also have a small, enclosed 'yard' at the rear. It would be interesting to see this type of approach attempted in some development in Britain. However, close emulation is probably best avoided, as Californians favour green, green grass and use up large amounts of precious water in an attempt to keep an emerald sward! 37
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