Isabella Plantation Access Project Summary of Public Consultation

139,152 Visitors May-July 2010 Isabella Plantation has large visitor numbers and many people love it. Any changes need to involve the public…

Finding Out What People Think 450 people made input, information went to many more Community Steering Group and Newsletters Planning for real with young people with disabilities – YPIAD Day March 24 Disability Groups Lunch May 19 Visitor Survey May 6-9 Breakfast consultation with stakeholders June 17 Public Consultation Drop in and In the Plantation – June 23-26

Stakeholders and Steering Group Steering Group formed in March with key partners and people from local organisations. Steering Group met April, June, July, August and discussed all aspects of the project. Steering Group to remain for project lifetime. Stakeholder mailing list created with input from local groups and have had newsletter and will receive updates during project lifetime. Stakeholders informed about all public consultations Breakfast consultation meeting with local stakeholders Consultation with staff and contractors

Young People’s Inclusivity and Access Day: March 2010

Aims To work with young disabled people to explore the inclusivity issues faced by them in accessing parks, and in particular Richmond Park. Providing peer support for participating individuals To provide a model of good practice for working with young people with mixed abilities. To support The Royal Parks application for funding the refurbishment and upgrade of the ‘Isabella Plantation’ To produce a report.

Process Six month lead in for planning Joint planning session for all key partners Worked with schools via Holly Lodge Centre Pre-session visits to schools to brief staff and carers Pre-session disability awareness training for key staff 20 young people from 2 schools and one other organisation plus carers took part Planning and event filmed by young people from Richmond College 3 groups toured site and then had group feedback over lunch Feedback discussed at lunchtime meeting with local disability groups in May Results presented at conference: Breaking the Barriers, 18 June 2010 for London Parks and Green Spaces Forum

Key Features 40 helpers involved 1:1 ratio including carers Multiple partners Risk assessments carried out on routes Heavy resourcing – extensive participatory planning process Input of gardeners to site tours was highly significant Much planning to develop activities to engage the young people Young people really enjoyed the day really enjoyed the day Very positive feedback from participants, carers and helpers Meaningful contribution to HLF bid for Isabella Plantation Helper debriefing at the end of the afternoon provided valuable feedback and insight

What We Learned Participants Liked… Colours, paths Winding paths Hidden secrets Need sense of adventure Carers providing information/ communication Liked to touch/ feel/ hear Useful to try and provide more adventurous paths (range) Joy of experiencing risk

Things That Need Changing Guard rails are needed near ponds Stepping stones - fun but not accessible Do not provide separate routes - integrate into existing layout Path surface not good - water + soil = mud Roughness is ok - large bumps not good 2 way gate? Current one too heavy Leaning posts (for balance/ rest), need to be inter-visible: achievable route Benches at same level as path and with space, eg. in alcove allowing disabled/ abled to sit together Mud Chicken wire on bridges - punctures wheel chair

Public Consultation and Visitor Survey May and June 2010

Synovate Visitor Survey May 6-9 The vast majority of visitors rate the overall quality of the Plantation as either excellent or very good (96%). The ‘signposting and maps’ and ‘the number of toilets’ are most likely to be seen as poor or very poor (23% and 16% respectively). Half (47%) would like the Isabella Plantation to offer more information on plants, whist three in ten would like the Plantation to offer guided walks and talks. Of the proposed new facilities accessible toilets is seen as the most useful facility, with 69% rating this facility useful. Seasonal catering is seen as the least useful, with a third (32%) rating this potential facility useful. 160 interviews carried out at Isabella Plantation gates.

Total Contributors – 139 people Male – 63 Female – 78 Older Person – 32 Young Adult – 21 Children/Youth – 16 Mobility Restriction – 14 White 118 BME 16 Generally there was little difference between responses at any of the three consultation sites. However, the responses collected in the Disabled Persons’ car park placed a higher emphasis on path surfaces and benches and bridges. Of those who visited the Plantation on June 25 and 26 but DID NOT stop to look at the exhibit, a high proportion were families with young children. Drop in with exhibition – June pm Pembroke Lodge Exhibition in Disabled Person’s Car Park – June pm Exhibition at Broomfield Gate – June pm

Three Ways to Comment: Questionnaire (self completing) – 38 returned Placing Sticky Dots onto a list of possible improvements - 59 people Post-it comments onto exhibition boards – total comments 104

Buildings

Buildings: Toilets, Catering, Shelter Toilet provision was the most frequently supported area of improvement. Opposition to catering was consistently the highest scoring point made in all feedback exercies. There is a significant body of people who would welcome catering outside or nearby the Plantation.

Dots Exercise DON’T LIKE Catering in plantation most frequently selected box on all days. In Disabled Persons Car Park consultation, ‘new accessible toilet’ and ‘more seating and rest places’ scored as highly as other LIKES ‘Catering in/near disabled persons’ car park’ scored quite highly after other factors mentioned above in both consultation days at park. LIKEDON’T LIKE Refurbished toilets250 New accessible toilet180 Catering in/near disabled Psns car park164 Catering in plantation433

Catering Catering, no thanks 11 comments specifically objected to the idea of catering within the Plantation. Concerns were expressed that catering might upset the ecology; attract people to the Plantation purely for the catering, and several (4) suggested that catering was only about income generation. Catering, yes please 5 people suggested a more positive view of catering, saying catering is helpful for people with mobility difficulties. Most of these felt catering should be low key, screened and one person asked for healthy foods. If catering is desired, should it be: In the Plantation near Peg’s Pond 1 In the Plantation screened from Peg’s Pond 3 In the disabled persons car park 8 On the edge of the car park 12 Light Meals 5 Tea/Coffee/Cake/snacks 15

Toilets 5 comments identified the need for toilets (in addition to some references to toilets in other comments, particularly in relation to catering (toilets yes, catering no). ‘I always take my aged parents to the Isabella over the Christmas period and the toilets aren’t open’ ‘Toilet problems need addressing esp. disabled toilets (my mother in law is 90)’

Shelter 5 people commented on the idea of a shelter. Some of these (2) suggested an information or visitor centre selling merchandise instead of catering. 2 comments made specific suggestions about a possible shelter. ‘Some walls (possibly half height) to reduce effect of wind/driving rain. Some bench seating needed.’ ‘If you have a shelter, make it high enough for vehicle drop off/collection.’

Building Design 10 people made specific comments about buildings 1 was opposed to any buildings 5 made suggestions to ensure any buildings are screened, out of sight, and masked by planting. 2 liked the idea of a ‘green’ roof 3 prefer a traditional roof shape. ‘Would prefer woodland structure, more in line with area. Growing things up pillars. More traditional roof shape.’

What is the most important thing about Isabella? Comments 7 comments were about the importance of the peace and tranquillity of Isabella Plantation. A further 3 suggested ‘it’s fine as it is, don’t spoil it’ ‘While a lot of the proposals are good – Please do not spoil a really special garden.’ 8 comments related generally to what a delightful place Isabella Plantation is. ‘If there’s such a thing as paradise on earth this must be the place.’ Top Response Peace and Tranquillity Wildlife Plant Collection Other Significant Response To learn about and observe nature Water Exercise/Taking a walk

What Needs Most Attention? Top Response Path Surfaces Approach Road and Disabled Persons’ Car Park Improving Biodiversity Other Significant Response Canopy thinning and pruning Signage / orientation Information/ interpretation Comments 4 people commented favourably about improvements to Reed Beds, Planting and Biodiversity 4 people commented positively on work to Water and Ponds ‘Really like the idea of sustainable water.’ 3 people commented on benches ‘Why do all seats need to be near the disabled accessible paths. Could there not be more seats near some of the other paths?’ 2 people commented on access issues ‘Chicken wire is a tripping hazard.’ ‘Car Park surface hand to push wheelchairs.’

Questionnaire: What is most important? Collated Results Work to enhance the plant collection and wildlife H 30M 4L 3 Planting reed beds to enhance biodiversity and landscape H 27M 7L 4 A new non mains reliant water storage and irrigation system using the ponds H 19M 13L 2 Improving path surfaces with natural gravel H 16M 12L 7 Improved signage H 16M 5L12 Making bridges and gates more accessible H 13M 18L 4 More benches and seating H 10M 14L13 Improved information about the Plantation H 7M 19L11

Dots Exercise What Do You Like Total LikeDislike Enhance Plants and wildlife280 Reed beds for biodiversity281 Improve path surfaces271 Sustainable water/irrigation system270 More seating and rest places190 Improve access to bridges and gates 121 Improved information110 Enhance Plants and Wildlife; sustainable water system; reed beds and refurbished toilets most consistently positives across all areas of LIKE. In park consultation, ‘improve path surfaces’ was highest LIKE factor.

Getting Around Few of those making an input had difficulties getting to or around the Plantation. 68% of those completing questionnaires felt that others might have difficulties getting around the Plantation. Most frequently identified reasons for difficulty in getting around Gate hard to open Path surfaces too rough Bridges too narrow 13 comments were about transport, including: Suggestion that there is a need for a drop off point at the Broomfield side Problems of access for older people who don’t have a blue badge The disabled car park should be used by blue badge holders only, and that the disabled car park is too small

Information, Interpretation and Signage Many people identified a need for more and better information, signage and interpretation. About 1/3 of those completing questionnaires felt that lack of signs and information on how to get around the plantation was important. About 2/3 of those completing questionnaires would like to see self guided walk leaflets and leaflets about plants and wildlife. Way Marked trails appealed to about 1/3 of those completing questionnaires. Web based information was not something many people felt they’d use, however, consultation with organisations suggested that those taking groups to the Plantation would use web based information. 10 Comments related to Information and Signage ‘Label trees and plants so that visitors know what they’re looking. Numbers on pegs by selected trees to compare with a non available plan is not good enough. ‘It’s easy to get lost in the Plantation if you don’t know it.’

Activities

Few people gave priority to activities. Where activities did get support, it was for activities for families and children. Very few people expressed an interest in activities for groups, however this was to be expected given that the consultation was geared towards individuals rather than organised groups.

Comments about Activities Comments ‘More walks for adults led by volunteers.’ ‘Its good to have logs and stepping stones and things for kids to play on.’ ‘This is not a wilderness, it’s a park and should be accessible to all!’ ‘Concern about children misusing the plantation and suggest thought goes into how to divert/re-educate.’ Six people commented on activities, most suggesting that activities are a good thing, although a few people did suggest in comments on other aspects of the project that they felt activities were not needed.