The Isabella Plantation Conservation Management Plan February 2012
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The Isabella Plantation Conservation Management Plan February 2012 Isabella Plantation Landscape Conservation Management Plan 2012 Prepared by The Royal Parks January 2012 The Royal Parks Rangers Lodge Hyde Park London W2 2UH Tel: 020 7298 2000 Fax: 020 7402 3298 [email protected] i Isabella Plantation Conservation Management Plan CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................. 3 Richmond Park ............................................................................................................................................. 3 The Management Plan ................................................................................................................................ 4 Aims of the Isabella Plantation Management Plan ................................................................................ 4 Structure of the Plan .................................................................................................................................. 6 2.0 GENERAL AND MANAGEMENT CONTEXT ............................... 7 Location ......................................................................................................................................................... 7 Existing TRP Management Framework ................................................................................................ 10 Management Structure of Richmond Park .......................................................................................... 10 Landscape Management of Richmond Park ........................................................................................ 10 Landscape Maintenance within the Isabella Plantation ..................................................................... 11 Database and Archive.............................................................................................................................. 12 External Influences ................................................................................................................................... 14 3.0 STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK .......................................................... 17 National Designations and Policy ........................................................................................................ 17 Local Planning Policies and Designations ............................................................................................ 20 Regional Context ..................................................................................................................................... 22 Local Context ........................................................................................................................................... 25 4.0 HISTORICAL CONTEXT ............................................................... 29 Richmond Park History Summary ........................................................................................................ 29 Isabella Plantation History Summary.................................................................................................... 30 5.0 PHYSICAL CONTEXT ................................................................... 37 Geology, Topography and Soils ............................................................................................................ 37 Drainage and Irrigation ........................................................................................................................... 37 6.0 NATURAL FABRIC ......................................................................... 39 Ecology and Wildlife ................................................................................................................................ 39 Habitats ....................................................................................................................................................... 41 Woodland and Trees .............................................................................................................................. 42 Veteran Trees ......................................................................................................................................... 643 Dead Wood ............................................................................................................................................... 45 Scrub ........................................................................................................................................................... 66 Timber Resource ...................................................................................................................................... 56 Isabella Plantation's Ponds and Streams .............................................................................................. 48 Water Quality ........................................................................................................................................... 49 Lawn and Grassland Habitat .................................................................................................................. 51 Species ........................................................................................................................................................ 52 Isabella Plant Collection including the Wilson 50 National Collection........................................ 56 ii Isabella Plantation Conservation Management Plan Invasive Species ......................................................................................................................................... 64 Pest and Diseases Control ..................................................................................................................... 66 A summary of Isabella Plantation Plant Collection Pest and Diseases ......................................... 66 7.0 BUILDINGS AND HARD LANDSCAPE FABRIC ........................ 72 Isabella Plantation Buildings and Main Structures ............................................................................. 72 Boundaries and Gates ............................................................................................................................. 73 Litter bins ................................................................................................................................................... 73 Log Seats and Benches ............................................................................................................................ 73 Signage ........................................................................................................................................................ 74 Richmond Park Road and Path Network ............................................................................................ 75 Paths - Isabella Plantation ....................................................................................................................... 77 Archeology and Cultural Landscape .................................................................................................... 79 8.0 PUBLIC USE ..................................................................................... 81 Public Access ............................................................................................................................................. 81 Visitor Profile ............................................................................................................................................ 82 Activities and Resources ......................................................................................................................... 84 Visitor Facilities ......................................................................................................................................... 85 Educational and Community Activities ................................................................................................ 88 9.0 SIGNIFICANCE & LANDSCAPE CHARACTER .......................... 89 Summary of Key Significance ................................................................................................................. 89 Character Areas ....................................................................................................................................... 94 10.0 KEY MANAGEMENT ISSUES .................................................... 100 Physical Context ..................................................................................................................................... 100 Natural Fabric ......................................................................................................................................... 100 Buildings and hard landscape fabric .................................................................................................... 101 Public Use................................................................................................................................................. 102 Landscape character .............................................................................................................................. 102 11.0 GUIDING POLICIES FOR MANAGEMENT ............................. 103 Park Management Policies .................................................................................................................... 103 Physical Context Policies 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