BUSHY PARK MANAGEMENT PLAN The Royal Parks DRAFT 2014 - 2024 Bushy Park Management Plan DRAFT Prepared by The Royal Parks March 2014 Consultation Draft The Royal Parks Rangers Lodge Hyde Park London W2 2UH Tel: 020 7298 2000 Fax: 020 7402 3298 [email protected] CONTENTS PART 1: CONTEXT AND RESPONSIBILITIES ................................... 1 1.0 Introduction ........................................................................................ 1 Bushy Park .................................................................................................................................................... 1 Aims of the Bushy Park Management Plan ............................................................................................ 2 Structure of the Plan .................................................................................................................................. 4 Note on the Heritage Lottery Projects ................................................................................................. 4 The Management Plan ................................................................................................................................ 4 The Conservation Statement ................................................................................................................... 5 2.0 General and Management Context .................................................. 9 Location ......................................................................................................................................................... 9 Existing TRP Management Framework ................................................................................................... 9 Management Structure of Bushy Park ................................................................................................. 11 Landscape Management .......................................................................................................................... 16 Database and Archive.............................................................................................................................. 16 Sustainability .............................................................................................................................................. 17 Community Involvement ........................................................................................................................ 17 External Influences ................................................................................................................................... 18 Management Issues: Public Access ....................................................................................................... 20 Main Leases, Licenses and Warrants ................................................................................................... 21 Management Issues: Leases, Licences, Warrants and Neighbours ................................................ 22 Other Background Information ............................................................................................................ 22 3.0 Strategic Framework ....................................................................... 25 Management Issue: Local Planning Policy and Designations ........................................................... 31 Regional Context ..................................................................................................................................... 33 Local Context ........................................................................................................................................... 37 4.0 Historical Context ............................................................................ 44 Significance of Historic Context ........................................................................................................... 60 5.0 Physical Description ......................................................................... 62 Geology, Topography and Soils ............................................................................................................ 62 Views and Vistas ....................................................................................................................................... 62 Hydrology and drainage .......................................................................................................................... 62 PART 2: DESCRIPTION, USE AND CHARACTER ........................... 66 6.0 Natural Fabric ................................................................................... 66 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 66 Ecology and Wildlife ................................................................................................................................ 66 i Trees and Woodland .............................................................................................................................. 74 Woodland .................................................................................................................................................. 79 Unimproved acid grasslands................................................................................................................... 84 Wetlands and Aquatic Habitats............................................................................................................. 98 Aquatic plants ............................................................................................................................................ 98 Conclusions ............................................................................................................................................. 106 Invasive Species ....................................................................................................................................... 108 Deer .......................................................................................................................................................... 109 7.0 Buildings and Hard Landscape Fabric ........................................... 113 Buildings and Main Structures ............................................................................................................. 113 Buildings within the historic extent of the Park and which are not Managed by TRP ........... 114 Monuments and Main Artefacts .......................................................................................................... 115 Boundary Wall, Fencing, Gates and Entrances ................................................................................ 115 Park Furniture and Signage ................................................................................................................... 117 Other Artefacts ...................................................................................................................................... 118 8.0 Public Use ........................................................................................ 123 Public Access ........................................................................................................................................... 123 Events ........................................................................................................................................................ 124 Management Issues: Events .................................................................................................................. 125 Visitor Facilities ....................................................................................................................................... 125 Organised Sports and Facilities ........................................................................................................... 125 Management Issues: Organised Sport and Facilities ....................................................................... 127 Formal and Informal Activities ............................................................................................................ 127 Cycling ...................................................................................................................................................... 127 Horse Riding ............................................................................................................................................ 128 Children’s Play ........................................................................................................................................ 129 Educational and Community Activities .............................................................................................. 130 Management Issues: Educational Activities ....................................................................................... 130 Allotments................................................................................................................................................ 131 Management Issues: Community Activities ...................................................................................... 132 9.0 Landscape Character ..................................................................... 135 Views ......................................................................................................................................................... 135 Management Issues: Views ..................................................................................................................