In Progress - Shelburne House Precinct Gardens & Landscape Stewardship Plan / Heritage Landscapes

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Shelburne Farms - House Precinct Gardens & Landscape Stewardship Plan
Shelburne, Vermont

Heritage Landscapes and Shelburne Farms recently began implementation on preservation recommendations laid out in the Shelburne House Precinct Gardens & Landscape Stewardship Plan. The plan explored four distinct areas within the Shelburne House Precinct—Shelburne House Gardens, Lake Champlain Shoreline, House Elm Trees and Elm Swamp—to address preservation, use, maintenance and sustainability of the area at Shelburne Farms. Each area demonstrated altered historic character through visible deterioration of built elements, unstable shorelines of Lake Champlain, and loss of historic elm trees. Multiple areas of deterioration within the project site, especially between the garden and the lakeshore, required integrated solutions for renewal and recapture, starting with the stabilization of the shoreline. Once complete, the shoreline stabilization project will effectively lay the foundation for the renewal of the surrounding areas. Phase 1 work began in Fall 2006, and shoreline stabilization is currently underway.

Stewarding the Shelburne House Precinct Gardens & Landscape

The Shelburne House Precinct is located on the east shore of Lake Champlain, which has contributed to the area’s aesthetic beauty and historic character, as well as deterioration over time.

The treatment plan for the area aims to recapture lost historic elements, such as the balustrade at the lake edge, winter and summer solstice views, garden edge features, and lost elm trees, with limited interventions targeting sustainability and stewardship.

The historic balustrade at the edge of the Shelburne House Gardens served as a safety barrier and interesting visual element within the garden. Over time, erosion of the lake shoreline undermined the balustrade, causing a portion of it to fall into the lake.

Collaboration between Heritage Landscapes, civil engineers and excavating contractors yielded design and implementation of a seawall below the garden along the shoreline to stop further slope erosion and lay the underpinning for garden renewal.

With slope stabilization and seawall complete, selected areas of new barrier above the lakeshore cliffs for public safety can be constructed, continuing progress toward renewal and recapture of the Shelburne House Precinct.

Reopening summer and winter solstice lake views through selective tree pruning and removals enhances the scenic quality and presence of Lake Champlain from Shelburne House.

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