Richmond Park
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RICHMOND PARK MANAGEMENT PLAN 2019 - 2029 The Royal Parks have been awarded a prestigious Landscape Institute Award in the ‘Transforming Through Management and Science’ category for the Richmond Park Management Plan presented on the 90th Anniversary of the Landscape Institute in 2019. The plan was described as: ‘An exemplary Management Plan for Richmond Park that “I grew accustomed to wide combines a values-driven approach with technical analysis of site condition to convey complex information in a meaningful, horizons and to an unimpeded accessible, engaging way.’ view of the sunset. I have never since been able to live happily without both”. BERTRAND RUSSELL 1872-1970 PARK MANAGER’S FOREWORD Richmond Park extends to over 950 hectares and represents across the Park, this has allowed transformative changes to a significant natural and cultural landscape that is both a take place in the woodlands. A variety of projects have been historic park and a city park. It forms part of a network of undertaken to protect and enhance habitats such as the green and blue spaces across London, linking landscapes and Beverley Brook, gorse and thorn protection to name a new. acting as stepping stones for the movement of wildlife. The We are indebted to all those who have supported these park is characterised by its mosaic of habitats, protected projects through grant aid and local fundraising. species and opportunities for enjoyment and recreation. Since enclosure by Charles 1, it has first and foremost been – and Of all the Royal Parks, Richmond Park is perhaps the one that remains - a deer park. has the most difficult balance to find in satisfying the needs and wishes of our millions of visitors annually with our duty I am delighted to introduce this, the third iteration of the to conserve and manage increasingly fragile, rare and precious Richmond Park Management Plan. The plan has been habitats. Those that have experienced Richmond Park over re-written in a new format which we hope will reflect the the years will recognise that the landscapes that they love importance that we place on creating robust and thoughtful are threatened as never before by many factors outside our plans for our parks to satisfy their needs in the short and direct control. I recognise that during the period of this plan medium term yet also reflecting a vision for future centuries. there may come a time when difficult conversations may In looking back at the achievements of the last 25 years it need to take place to ensure that the precious landscapes is amazing to reflect on how many positive changes have that people love to visit are not compromised by this use to taken place and particularly the steps taken to conserve the detriment of future generations. and enhance the many rare species and habitats found in Richmond Park. We could not have achieved much of this In reading this plan, my team managing this wonderful park, without our hugely valued army of community stakeholders will be pleased to work with those who wish to contribute and volunteer support. their constructive thoughts and wishes to us. In the last 10 years we have delivered a wide range of projects and introduced new ways of managing the Park: a completely restructured golf course with an exceptional modern clubhouse, the Isabella Plantation has been transformed using HLF funding to provide modern, accessible facilities together with enhanced ponds, lawns and expanded plant collections. Pembroke Lodge has grown as an exceptional business together with a garden setting that includes a wonderful new rose garden, perennial borders and invertebrate friendly meadows. We have invested in managing and protecting our precious veteran trees and this has included extensive programmes to remove the invasive SIMON RICHARDS Rhododendron ponticum which had become widespread Richmond Park Manager CONTENTS PART 1 FOREWORD CONTEXT Park Manager’s Foreword iii MANAGEMENT ECOLOGICAL The Royal Parks Context 12 Ecological Context 34 Park Management 12 Geology and Soils 34 Authority to Manage 12 Hydrology and Drainage 37 PREFACE The Royal Parks Charitable Objects 12 Habitats 37 Designations and Compliance 12 Species 46 The Royal Parks Landscape Documents vii Richmond Park Management Structure 13 Pests, Diseases and Invasive Species 49 Structure of this Plan viii Resources 14 Biosecurity 51 Process, Guidance & Acknowledgements ix Influences 14 Climate Change 52 Pressures 14 Sustainability 52 Risk 15 Safety and Security 15 COMMUNAL Leases, Licences and Concessions 15 Public Access 55 Database and Archive 16 Events 56 Visitor Profile 56 iv4 POLICY Visitor Facilities 56 International and National Designations 18 Organised and Informal Activities 57 International and National Policies 19 Learning 57 Local Planning Policy 19 Community Volunteering 57 TRP Strategies, Policies and Regulations 19 Community Engagement 58 Behaviour Change 58 HISTORIC Timeline 22 AESTHETIC Boundaries and Gates 28 Views 60 Furniture and Signage 28 Topography 62 Road and Path Network 28 Lighting 63 Buildings and Structures 29 Horticulture 63 Monuments/Designated & Other Significant Land Use 64 Heritage Assets 30 Well-being 64 Archaeology 30 Cultural Landscape 64 PART 2 PART 3 PART 4 LANDSCAPE CHARACTER OUR POLICIES IMPLEMENTATION The Significance of Richmond Park 67 Management 129 Implementation of the Management Plan 137 Landscape Character Areas 67 Historic 129 Monitoring 137 Landscape Significance 68 Ecological 130 Review 138 Landscape Condition 69 Communal 132 The Project Register 139 Landscape Character Areas Assessment 69 Aesthetic 133 ABBREVIATIONS FIGURES LANDSCAPE CHARACTER AREAS AOD Acute Oak Decline Fig 1 Our Landscape Documents Kingston Slopes 72 BAP Biodiversity Action Plan Fig 2 The Structure of this Plan Pembroke Lodge 74 DEFRA Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs Fig 3 Location and Vision of each Royal Park DCMS Department for Digital, Culture Media and Sport Fig 4 TRP Management Structure Petersham Park 78 ExCom Executive Committee Fig 5 Surrounding Green Spaces The Conduit 80 FMC Facilities Maintenance Contractor Fig 6 Etching of John Lewis FoRP Friends of Richmond Park Fig 7 Photograph of Copper Entrance Tokens The Bog 82 FsC Forest Stewardship Council Fig 8 Photograph of Volunteer Brigades Sheen Plain 84 FSC Field Studies Council Fig 9 Post Card from Richmond Park GCN Great Created Newt Fig 10 Photograph of the South African Military Hospital Beverley Plain 86 GiGL Greenspace Information for Greater London Fig 11 Poster of Richmond Park by Charles Paine Ladderstile Belt 88 GIS Geographical Information Systems Fig 12 Photograph of “Phantom Squad” GLA Greater London Authority Fig 13 Main Habitats 2018 Broomfield Plain 90 GLHER Greater London Historic Environment Record Fig 14 Gateways and Main Routes 5v Dann’s Valley 92 HLF Heritage Lottery Fund Fig 15 Archaeological Significance & Listed Buildings IPAP Isabella Plantation Access Project Fig 16 Underlying Geology Ham Cross 94 LM Landscape Maintenance Fig 17 Broad Habitat Sidmouth Wood 96 LMC Landscape Maintenance Contractor Fig 18 Key Tree Groupings and Woodland LUC Land Use Consultants Fig 19 Behavioural Influences Flying Field 98 MPS Metropolitan Police Service Fig 20 Key Views Spankers Hill 100 NERC Natural Environment and Rural Communities Fig 21 Topography NNR National Nature Reserve Fig 22 A View in Richmond Park by Sir Edwin Landseer 1844 Spankers Hill Wood 102 NVC National Vegetation Classification Fig 23 Richmond Parishioners - ‘beating the bounds’ Spankers Field 104 OCGW Oriental Chestnut Gall Wasp Fig 24 The Stag Hunt, by Joan Palmer Carlile OPM Oak Processionary Moth Fig 25 Visitor to Isabella Plantation The Mire 106 RCHME Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England Fig 26 Deer playfully rutting Isabella Plantation 108 ROSPA Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents Fig 27 Assessment of Landscape Character Areas RPWG Richmond Park Wildlife Group Fig 28 Significance Diagram Pond Slade 112 SAC Special Area of Conservation Fig 29 Significance Vs. Condition Matrix Pen Pond Valley 114 SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest Fig 30 Richmond Park Character Areas TfL Transport for London Fig 31 Historical image of road usage Queen’s Ride 116 TRP The Royal Parks Fig 32 Photograph of road users on a busy weekend Barn Wood & Two Storm Wood 118 TRP OCU The Royal Parks Operational Command Unit (Metropolitan Police) Fig 33 Photograph of Leg of Mutton Pond on a busy weekend WFD Water Framework Directive Fig 34 Photograph of East Sheen showing livestock grazing Golf Course 122 WW1 World War One Fig 35 Photograph of deer in the park on open parkland Holly Lodge 124 WWII World War Two Fig 36 Historical image of deer Fig 37 Visitors taking selfies in close proximity to the deer White Lodge 126 Fig 38 A visitor feeding deer from a car, dated 1934 TABLES APPENDICES Table 1 Listed Buildings & Structures Appendix 1: Bibliography Table 2 Ground Flora Vegetation Community Areas Appendix 2: Extract from National Monuments Record Table 3 Woodland Planting Dates Appendix 3: Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest Table 4 Surveys and Inspections 6 PREFACE TRP STRATEGIC TRP LANDSCAPE DOCUMENTS PLAN TRP LANDSCAPE STRATEGY ‘Who’ are we... ‘why’ we manage the way we do The Landscape Strategy is a public document which sets out The Royal Park’s (TRP) overarching ethos and principles regarding landscape management. It sets the parks within their London context and presents their importance. TRP PARK MANAGEMENT PLANS LANDSCAPE ‘What’ we will do... ‘what’ we want to do STRATEGY The Management Plan is a 10 year plan which directs effective park management. The plan is strategic in nature, setting out the 100 year vision for the park and the broad objectives which will guide its management. PARK OPERATIONS PLANS ‘What we deliver... ‘when’, ‘who’ and ‘how’ The Operations Plan is prepared every year as the working 7vii document for the management of the park. It contains the PARK park’s annual Action Plan and Business Plan while it also EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT records progress made in the previous year.