Photography competition to honour Warley Woods designer Humphry Repton

Humphry Repton, who is often regarded as a successor to Capability Brown, left his mark on Warley Woods which is enjoyed by thousands of visitors every year.

Now to mark the 200th anniversary of his death next year, a photography competition is being launched to find images of his landscapes in the present day.

As well as the Smethwick beauty spot, he also designed the picturesque woodlands and deer park at Attingham Park near Shrewsbury as well as many other National Trust sites across the country.

Born in Bury St. Edmunds in 1752, Mr Repton, the son of a successful tax collector, was expected by his family to become a merchant but his real passions were botany, entomology and gardening.

After spending some time in Ireland working as private secretary to William Windham, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, he returned to Essex where he offered his services as an ‘improver of the landscape’.

He went on to work on more than 400 commissions during his 30-year career working on many important stately homes.

In around 1794, Mr Repton was contacted by Samuel Galton II who had purchased the Warley Hall estate two years earlier and wanted him to create a setting worthy of his new house to be built.

In his designs, Mr Repton made good use of the lie of the land with its spectacular scenery and panoramic views, which he incorporated into his plan. He also created contrived views that slowly unfolded for guests, as they toured around the park.

Warley Woods is now a a Grade 2 listed park due to Mr Repton's design

Viv Cole, manager of Warley Woods Community Trust, said is encouraging visitors to the park to take part in the competition which has seen IGPOTY (International Garden Photographer of the Year) team up with the National Trust to celebrate Mr Repton's legacy.

"Warley Woods is one of his landscapes which is free to visit and lots of people take such lovely photos of it.

"He was commissioned to design a private pleasure ground for Samuel Galton Junior at Warley Woods so he turned the farmland at Warley into landscaped parkland around 1786.

"It is his design that creates the beauty people enjoy today. He designed a house too, but that wasn't the one that was built.

"He always presented his prospective clients with a design proposal bound in red leather which are now known as Repton's Red Books.

"The one for Warley Park is held at Smethwick Library - it is great that we have that design close at hand as the books are collectors items and I don't think many are still found with the actual landscape.

"At Christmas, we produced two teddy bears, one called Humphry and one Repton - a bit of mix of public education and fundraising.

"They were really popular and we just have four left - so hopefully children around Warley Woods will know his name, even if they don't know why," she added.

The 2nd Lord Berwick appointed Mr Repton to redesign the Attingham Estate near Shrewsbury and paid him a stipend of one hundred guineas a year for two visits.

Mr Repton presented his Red Book in 1798 and his proposals focussed on the improvement of the River Terne which runs through the park in a bid to make it a more prominent feature.

His idea of a grand entrance to the park off the A5 still exists as does his wish that people drive into open parkland.

For more information about the competition see www.igpoty.com/competitions/humphry-repton-2017