Designing with Nature?

Abstract

McHarg (1969) and others portray 18th century English landscapes as examples of designing with nature and self-perpetuating. Through analysis of original plans, historical topographic maps, and current satellite imagery, we documented the persistence of Capability Brown’s water features. We assessed the underlying geology of each site to determine if Brown accounted for local sediment yield rates in his designs. We expected that sites in the glaciated northwest, where river systems are more active, would fill with sediment more than sites in the southeast. We interviewed estate managers to determine the maintenance requirements of each water feature. Out of a sample of 53 water features, we found 37 (70 percent) exist today as Brown planned them more than two centuries ago, a better survival rate than enjoyed by the surrounding landscapes (51 percent as documented by Stroud in 1950). However, the persistence of the water features is largely attributable to periodic maintenance: out of 28 estates responding to our inquiries, 20 (71 percent) reported dredging or vegetation removal to maintain the water features. We did not find evidence that Brown accounted for local sediment yield rates in his designs, nor did we find different patterns in sedimentation or dredging histories of the water features. Although Brown’s water features may look natural, they survive because of significant human intervention. Given contemporary interests in managing for habitat and restoration, the current management regimes require consideration of both the historic preservation of iconic elements of the English landscape and ecological conservation values.