Old ground, new techniques
New study investigates the links between heritage science and sport science.
The UCL Institute for Sustainable Heritage (ISH) has embarked on a study to assess the risks of integrating permanent sporting infrastructure into designed landscapes, and how to mitigate them.
For many of the UK’s historic houses, hosting events, such as horse trials in their grounds, is a crucial way to diversify their business. But little is known about how the grounds affect the performance of the horses, or how the horses and eventing infrastructure affect the grounds and any archaeology buried beneath them.
The study launched in May 2017 at Burghley Park, home to one of the UK’s most demanding cross-country horse trials and one of its top 10 most-attended sporting events. It brings together the event’s directors with professionals from social science, equine biomechanics, archaeology, landscape design and historic estate management.
Historically-important open spaces have been instrumental in the evolution of equestrian sports. Today, technology is becoming central to the ability of sporting events to attract visitors and enhance the riders’ experience.
Professor May Cassar, Director of the ISH, says: “We expect that, in the near future, caretakers of historic designed landscapes will need to address concerns on how best to integrate these technologies while maintaining the character and integrity of the landscape.”
Sporting events have become critical to local economies, but sustaining them on these sites will require many actors to use a shared language. By presenting cross-disciplinary evidence, the study aims create a decision-making process that bridges sport and heritage.
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