Roman Gardens (English Heritage) - Tapa dura

Ornamental gardening has a long and intriguing history that can be traced back to the start of the first millennium. Roman Gardens highlights the enormous impact of the Roman occupancy on British gardening and explains how the invaders brought a love of outdoor life and culture to Britain that remains an intrinsic part of this nation's devotion to gardening today. Many plants that were first introduced by the Romans, like common box, are now considered to be quintessentially English garden plants. Similarly, many of the Romans' sophisticated horticultural techniques, like grafting and fruit training, are still used today, and their designs and features can be inspirational for today's gardeners.

Anne Jennings is Head of Horticulture at the Museum of Garden History.