21 Mar 2003 - 01 Jan 2004
Isabella - 50 years old but still blooming
Richmond Park

This year sees the 50th anniversary of one of the national treasures of Richmond Park, the Isabella Plantation, which the Royal Parks is marking with a free series of tours and the creation of an archive.

The Isabella Plantation is a beautiful woodland garden that houses a fine collection of azaleas, including the National Collection of 50 Japanese azalea varieties introduced to the West around 1920 by the famous plant collector, Ernest Wilson. Rhododendrons, camellias, and magnolias thrive under a mature woodland canopy with many other acid-loving plants. Always cared for in traditional ways, for the last 12 years Isabella has been managed organically. In spring the air rings with birdsong and the drumming of woodpeckers, while in summer dragonflies patrol the ponds and streams and butterflies frequent the heathers. Although beautiful at any time of year the Isabella Plantation comes into its own as the azaleas and rhododendrons bloom in April and May.

The creation of the garden took some four years of continuous labour before it was open to the public. People were slow to discover this hidden gem but a trickle of visitors has turned into a steady stream over the years. Enduring droughts, storms and gales, Isabella has continued to evolve and expand. Recent developments include the wild stream in the northern section of the garden, dug in 1989, and the reconstruction of the Bog Garden in 2000. Planned for this birthday year is a glade of white-flowered shrubs and trees, set amongst silver birches and underplanted with ferns and white foxgloves.

To celebrate Isabella's birthday, the gardeners will lead visitors on guided walks. These will start in the garden, just inside the gate from Broomfield Hill car park, at 11.00 a.m. Lasting for about one hour, they are free of charge. The upcoming spring walks will be on: March 28; April 11, 19, and 25; and May 3, 9, 10, 11 and 23.

Also, little is documented about the early years of Isabella and Jane Braham, who is in charge of the garden is taking this birthday opportunity to start an Isabella archive. She would be interested to borrow any photos visitors may have, showing earlier stages of the garden's development, particularly if the date of the photo is known. Please contact her with archive material or for general information about Isabella at Holly Lodge on 020 8948 3209.

Source:
The Royal Parks

For further information contact:
The Royal Parks Press Office T: 020 7298 2128 E: press@royalparks.gsi.gov.uk

Editor's notes:
Richmond Park covers 2,358 acres and is Europe's largest urban walled park (the wall is 8 miles long). Its origins as a place for royal deer hunting go back to Edward I (1272-1307) and it still retains a 650+ herd of deer (Red & Fallow). The continuous grazing by the deer has shaped the park's habitats, maintaining stunning views over rolling grasslands and majestic parkland trees.

Richmond Park is London's largest Site of Special Scientific Interest, a National Nature Reserve, a candidate European Special Area of Conservation and a Grade 1 Listed landscape, all of which shows it to be a nationally and internationally important site for wildlife conservation.

Species records for the Park include 49 grasses, rush and sedges; over 250 fungi; more than 1000 beetles; 546 butterflies and moths; 139 spiders; 144 birds; and 25 mammals. Several birds found in the central region of the Park are on the national Red (seriously threatened) or Amber (declining) lists, and the Park supports 162 Red Data Book or Notable species of invertebrate. The brown hare and probably also the grey partridge (also a Red-listed species) have disappeared from the Park in recent years.

Millions of Londoners and tourists visit the eight Royal Parks for free each year. The 5,000 acres of carefully conserved historic parkland provide unparalleled opportunities for enjoyment, exploration and healthy living in the heart of the capital.

The Royal Parks are: Bushy Park, Green Park, Greenwich Park, Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, Regent's Park (with Primrose Hill), Richmond Park and St James's Park.