§ 19. Dr. SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what help and encouragement his Department gives to the promotion of gardening as(a) a leisure pursuit and (b) part of the nation's heritage.
§ Mr. SproatGardening is one of the most popular leisure pursuits. The Department has responsibility, through the Royal Parks Agency, for the royal parks, which contain some nationally famous gardens, providing inspiration, if not help and encouragement, to the gardener.
English Heritage maintains a register of historic parks and gardens and provides grants for their conservation. My Department is also grant-aiding projects being undertaken by the Garden History Society and the National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens.