Isabella Plantation Access Project Summary of Public Consultation

1. Isabella Plantation Access ProjectSummary of Public Consultation

2. 139,152 Visitors May-July 2010 Isabella Plantation has large visitor numbers and many people love it. Any changes need to involve the public…

3. 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

4. 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

5. Young People’s Inclusivity and Access Day: March 2010

6. 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.

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. Public Consultation and Visitor Survey May and June 2010

12. Synovate Visitor Survey May 6-9 160 interviews carried out at Isabella Plantation gates. • 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.

13. Drop in with exhibition – June 23 4-9pm Pembroke LodgeExhibition in Disabled Person’s Car Park – June 25 12-4pmExhibition at Broomfield Gate – June 26 12-4pm • 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. Total Contributors – 139 people • Male – 63 • Female – 78 • Older Person – 32 • Young Adult – 21 • Children/Youth – 16 • Mobility Restriction – 14 • White 118 • BME 16

14. 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

15. Buildings

16. 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.

17. Dots ExerciseDON’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.

18. 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.

19. 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)’

20. 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.’

21. 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.’

22. 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

23. 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.’

24. Questionnaire: What is most important?

25. Dots Exercise 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.

26. 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

27. 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.’

28. Activities

29. 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.

30. Comments about Activities 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. 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.’