Kasteeltuinen Arcen received the European Garden Award on 7 September. The park was nominated by an international jury of the EGHN (European Garden Heritage Network) in the category 'Restoration, Enhacement or Development of a Historic Park or Garden' and won the 2nd prize of the prestigious award.
The European Garden Heritage Network (EGHN) has been awarding this European Garden Prize since 2010, together with partners in 14 European countries (Germany, France, Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, Italy, Ireland, Poland, Austria, Denmark, Portugal, Spain and Russia).
The aim of EGHN is to promote European exchange on the development and management of parks and gardens and to support sustainable, regional and local development concepts.
The European Garden Prize is not just about spectacular garden art or perfectly maintained borders or lawns.
For this award, innovative concepts in realisation and management, urban planning aspects, sustainability issues, a special offer for visitors or civil society involvement are just as important as high quality in the construction of a new(er) or the restoration of an existing park or garden, for example. The nominees and especially the finalists and winners should inspire other projects or serve as role models.
Arcen Castle Gardens was nominated this year along with the Broughton Grange Estate (Oxfordshire, UK) and Adare Manor (Adare, Ireland). Broughton Grange Estate won the first prize.
Kasteeltuinen Arcen, a member of the EGHN only since the end of 2016, is proud of this leading garden award. The award recognises the efforts of recent years, the extensive renovation of the castle and gardens. Arcen Castle Gardens has developed into an exceptional and popular destination. The flower and plant park - designed by Dutch garden architect Niek Roozen - has been extensively renovated and offers many new events to its visitors.
Kasteeltuinen Arcen is a project of the Limburg Landscape Foundation. Director-Rentmaster Wilfred Alblas was able to receive the 2nd prize today at Schloss Nordkirchen in Münster (DU). "It feels like great support that Kasteeltuinen Arcen received the second prize from the network of top European gardens. Telling also that we were nominated in the garden-restoration category, making it a capstone of the major restoration work that the Limburg Landscape Foundation has been carrying out since 2013. This award is also a compliment to the horticultural and ornamental sector, our authorities, donors and season ticket holders who helped tremendously. Internationally, too, the castle gardens are now proving to be a park to love." Says Wilfred Alblas, director-treasurer of the Limburg Landscape Foundation.
