The new Tellow Declaration - Second Declaration of Tellow
Landed Estate Complexes in the Baltic area - a common European heritage

At the international symposium on the 9th October 2004 on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the presentation of the Europa Nostra Diploma to the Thünen-Museum -Tellow in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern ( Hither Pomerania ) representatives of several European countries discussed the results of the First Tellow Declaration signed on the 24th September 1994. Strategies for the preservation of the historically evolved cultural landscape in rural areas of Europe were considered and new aims for action set out, bearing in mind current social developments and challenges. Manorial estate complexes bear important witness to the development of rural areas in the Baltic region over many centuries in the following countries: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia and Sweden. The preservation of this unique European cultural landscape demands common action on the spot, in individual regions, at national level and internationally across borders. The bringing together of all available forces and resources is all the more urgent and necessary considering in particular the enlargement of the European Union in the central and eastern Europe, changes in agriculture which are already becoming evident and the limited financial resources available in the future.

Transnational common features and problems demand transnational strategies and transnational actions.

Organisations from various nations represented at Tellow on the 9th October 2004 agreed therefore on the new Tellow Declaration - second Declaration of Tellow - and confirmed their intention to tackle the following main tasks in close cooperation:

1. Concentration of forces

Local players need reliable advice and support in order to preserve, maintain and where necessary restore the complete appearance of the built cultural heritage in its historically developed surroundings. To carry this out cooperation between associations, federations, trusts, foundations and other institutions amongst each other and also with official authorities at all levels must be developed.

2. Publicity work

The mobilisation of the public is an important precondition for visible success. It is necessary to make citizens and especially decision-makers conscious of the importance of preserving and using landed estate complexes in their historically evolved cultural landscape as a socially necessary task. Regional and superregional media have a particularly important role to play as multiplicators. The importance and value of landed estate complexes should be given a higher profile nationally and internationally by effective publicity work also using Internet.

3. Spatial regulation, territorial management and regional development

Up to now the cultural, historic and touristic potential of landed estate complexes - including their entire surroundings with individual features of cultural landscape such as parks, gardens, village churches etc.- has not been given sufficient attention in plans for spatial regulation, territorial management and drafts for regional development. Criteria have to be developed and priorities set out while bearing in mind the profusion of tasks. The preservation of landed estate complexes in their entirety must be the main objective.

4. The agricultural use of landed estate complexes

From the viewpoint of protecting the whole ensemble the continuation or revival of an agrarian use should have priority. Where possible, estate complexes should be reunited with the surrounding land. The sale of buildings and agricultural land separately and divided from each other should be avoided as far as possible. This is especially important for complexes of outstanding architectural and landscape design.

5. New ideas for the use of complexes

Besides the original agricultural function of the buildings within an estate complex a broad spectrum of further additional and integrative possibilities of use - for instance cultural, craft and touristic use - should be developed. This should be realized with clear direction of purpose and supported by marketing with effective publicity. As a point of principle the possibilities of uses for renewable alternative sources of energy should be investigated and promoted.

6. Museal use of historic estate complexes

The establishment of open air museums as attractive educational institutions dealing with the history of rural areas in the Baltic region is suggested for carefully selected estate complexes including interesting areas - such as settlements and housing for estate workers - belonging to the complexes. The museums should show the developments of agriculture and rural culture and publish works of transnational interest. Similarly cooperation in thematic aspects is also recommended, such as : Swedish estate complexes in the Baltic region, agrarian reformers on estates, "pearls" of estate culture etc.

7. Creation of a "monument watch"

The creation of institutions similar to the "Monument Watch" in the Netherlands should be seriously considered. Their task as independent institutions should be - after inspection of buildings- to give expert advice for necessary repairs and for securing them to owners and decision-makers, to offer practical help with simple repairs and to watch over new uses. Such support should not be dependent on the status of a building as a listed historic monument.

8. Prevention of demolition

Further demolition of historic buildings in estate complexes should be avoided. This applies in particular to the farm buildings which are especially exposed to increasing danger from demolition due to the loss of their agrarian function. This problem must be impressed more urgently on decision-makers. This should also include the insight that individual buildings and complexes can - in exceptional circumstances - have a right to exist as ruins.

9. Cooperation in the Baltic region

A network which should be developed as soon as possible and which in the long-term is necessary to protect the common cultural heritage "Landed estate complexes in the countries of the Baltic region" should have the following aims:

cooperation of citizens, associations and institutions which work to protect landed estate complexes. This should include inventarisation in data banks, the search for viable uses and their financing as well as regular exchage of information;

the establishment of a " Council for Landed Estate Complexes in the Baltic region" with a permanent secretariat and alternating chairmanship within the participating countries with the aim of supporting effective cooperation of the players using modern means of communication;

use and effective realization of transnational programmes of support of the European Union such as INTERREG, CULTURE 2000, LEADER, BALTIC 21 etc.;

development of common projects in the context of promotion of tourism by the European Union. A "Route to Landed Estate Complexes in the Baltic", similar to already existing and well-proved projects such as "The Gothic Brick Route", would be welcome. This would make a substantial contribution to stimulating tourism in rural areas;

registration of exceptional sites in the World Heritage List of UNESCO and in lists of cultural heritage of national importance should be developed further;

endowment of a Prize for exceptional services to the preservation and use of landed estate complexes in the Baltic region;

creation of employment for the well-qualified in the area of research, preservation and the marketing of landed estate complexes as part of the cultural heritage.

10. The young generation and landed estate complexes

The contact of young people with landed estate complexes as part of cultural heritage should be actively promoted by broad and well developed publicity work , in particular through:

the acceptance of responsibility and sponsorship for selected projects linked with follow-up support of these initatives;

inclusion of the subject in school curricula, during accompanied recreation periods (at whole day schools) and in the activity of working groups;

inclusion of the subject "landed estate complexes in the Baltic region" in the curricula of establishments for higher education;

transnational cooperation of young people in common projects between individual countries including the development of "Young People's Building Lodges";

the recognition of such activity as work possible within the framework of a Voluntary Social Year.

11. The role of academic institutions

The cooperation of academic disciplines such as the agricultural and environmental sciences, the humanities, architecture and engineering and the economic sciences is particularly needed for research and teaching on landed estate complexes as part of the cultural heritage. Their tasks should in particular include:

encouragement of academic work on the subject by students and young academics at colleges and universities;

cooperation of academic institutions with practical work taking place in the countryside as part of applied trade and economy, in agriculture and tourism nationally and internationally;

preparation of publications on various aspects of the subject.

The "New Tellow Declaration" aims to secure and guarantee the preservation and use of "landed estate complexes in the Baltic area" as part of the European cultural heritage through transnational cooperation with a programmatic view and by concentrating forces in a sustainable form. The basis for future work - in particular for transnational projects- is the experience gained up to now, already existing ideas for uses and marketing as well as viable concepts coming from individual countries and regions in the Baltic area. This declaration is intended as a long-term strategy which needs to be brought up to date constantly.

Participants of the Symposium "Preservation of Landed Estate Complexes as common European Cultural Heritage - Chances and Tasks for the Future" on the 9th October 2004 at the Thünen Estate Tellow in Mecklenburg- Vorpommern (Hither Pomerania).