Isabella Plantation

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Apr 30

A visit to the Isabella Plantation in Richmond Park in April

It’s very easy to visit Richmond Park regularly and completely miss the Isabella Plantation. The deer are kept out of this part of the park, allowing for a wide variety of trees and a more garden-like feel.

A woodland path through mature oaks at Isabella Plantation in Richmond Park, flanked by banks of pink, magenta and purple azaleas in full bloom.

Principally a woodland garden, it is in spring, really the last two weeks in April, that the many flowering shrubs and trees come to the fore. There are witch-hazels, camellias and magnolias in early spring. In April and May it is the turn of azaleas and rhododendrons. Get ready for a technicolour tour.

Close-up of vivid red and pink azalea blossoms at Isabella Plantation in Richmond Park

The Wilson 50 Kurume Azaleas

The garden is home to the National Plant Collection of Wilson 50 Kurume Azaleas, introduced to the west from Japan in the 1920's by the plant collector Ernest Wilson. These originally came from the island of Kurume in Japan but there has been some confusion over the names of the original 50 he selected. The only other complete sets are at Caerhays Estate in Cornwall and Windsor Great Park in Berkshire. If you want to identify them all this website has the definitive list.

Close-up of magenta-purple azalea flowers with dark speckled throats at Isabella Plantation in Richmond Park

Water Gardens

The Isabella Plantation sits in a natural dip and running and still water throughout is a major feature.

A stepped stream waterfall bordered by ferns and pink azaleas at Isabella Plantation in Richmond Park.

A mandarin duck swimming on a still pond with its reflection, at Isabella Plantation in Richmond Park

A narrow stream lined with ferns and irises, framed by pink and purple azaleas at Isabella Plantation in Richmond Park.

Most of the water features are man-made, water is pumped from Pen Ponds and the streams were dug out in the 20th century. The lower part of the Plantation is naturally boggy and the garden plants here reflect that with asiatic primulas, gunnera and this rather fantastic Darmera peltata.

Close-up of a pink darmera peltata flower cluster with deep red centres, set against a dark background at Isabella Plantation

Isabella Plantation has been subject to some significant investment in recent years. Ponds have been cleared of silt, the remaining invasive Rhododendron ponticum has been cleared out, along with rampant skunk cabbage.

Rhododendrons

Most people know that I’m not a big fan of rhododendrons, particularly in smaller gardens. Where they’ve got space to do their thing though they look majestic. I like seeing them in dark groves where they can look moody and mysterious, particularly on a gloomy day.

A gravel path curving through banks of magenta, pink and purple azaleas beneath mature trees at Isabella Plantation in Richmond Park

A white-flowered rhododendron shrub glowing among green woodland foliage, bordered by pink and purple azaleas at Isabella Plantation.

A pale yellow rhododendron shrub in full bloom against dark woodland foliage at Isabella Plantation in Richmond Park

Close-up of a deep red rhododendron flower cluster among dark glossy leaves at Isabella Plantation in Richmond Park.

And just occasionally you come across some very delicate flowers, completely different. Unfortunately I cannot find the name of this one.

Close-up of pale pink bell-shaped flowers hanging from a shrub, with rounded green leaves, at Isabella Plantation in Richmond Park.

Getting there and getting around

The nearest public car park is at the top of Broomwood Hill. Recently the paths and loos have been upgraded making it an easy walk around the Plantation and all the paths are accessible with a wheelchair. If you’ve got a blue badge you can park very close by. Dogs on leads are allowed.

And the nearest coffee?

There is a kiosk in the car park at the top of Broomwood Hill - coffee, cake, bacon sandwiches…

Gardens to visitgardens open to the publicLondon gardens

Jane Shankster