Association of Heritage Interpretation annual conference, Inverness, Scotland
26.09.2025
Landscapes, Community, Ideas
We Make Landscapes
At the Association of Heritage Interpretation Conference in Inverness, Eric Langham delivered a thought-provoking lecture titled We Make Landscapes. Exploring how landscapes are shaped not only by nature but by human memory, emotion, and narrative, Eric argued that interpretation plays a crucial role in making landscapes meaningful.
Drawing on four landscape types – forgotten, schizophrenic, supra-landscapes, and ordinary places with extraordinary stories – he demonstrated how interpretation can help landscapes remember, reveal hidden complexities, and elevate the everyday. From Alderney’s painful wartime past to Culloden Battlefield’s layered histories, from the transnational Cultural Routes of Europe to a single evocative photograph, Eric showed how interpretation can unearth forgotten stories, reconcile conflicting narratives, and even shift perceptions of place.
He concluded by asking whether landscapes possess an emotional force beyond human construction – and challenged the audience to reflect on interpretation’s power in shaping both place and identity.