World Heritage Site Management Plan Update
The final consultation period for the World Heritage Site Management Plan has now been completed- thanks to those of you who sent us your comments.
UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) is the World Heritage Site designating body and recommends that all World Heritage Sites have management plans. The draft version of Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal’s new management plan for 2008-13 was compiled following 12 months of public consultation, during which we asked for your ideas to help us update the plan. The final consultation period was from July 2008 to September 2008 in which we published the draft management plan on this website as well as making a shorter summary document available at Ripon Library, Harrogate Library, the North Yorkshire County Council mobile library service and the Nidderdale AONB office.
The six comments we received have been considered when writing the final management plan. We are currently working on designing and formatting the management plan. We will be producing fifty copies of the full plan as well as a number of full colour summary documents that will be readily available to the public. Once the final plan has been approved and published we will make a copy available via this website.
Our review of the 2001 – 2007 action plan highlighted the many conservation and access projects that have been successfully delivered within this period, such as the restoration of Galand Bridge in the Water Garden and the introduction of an audio tour of the abbey which is available in several different languages. As a result of this review, and new knowledge and experience that has emerged throughout 2001 – 2007, we have identified a variety of themes for the updated management plan. These include water management, adapting to climate change, the management of the historic parkland and its associated ancient and veteran trees, and the maintenance and improvement of wildlife habitats.
We accept the challenge that the new plan for the site must take account of climate change, be environmentally aware and seek to improve links with the local community and our partners. It must also reflect that Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal is a special place, loved for generations. It is a place of calm reflection, of delight and exploration for those who come to discover it now and in the future.
Keith Emerick, Inspector of Ancient Monuments at English Heritage said: "One of the great successes of the first management plan was the role played by the local community. It is just as important for local people to have their say this time around. We know that the local community have a great pride in this site as well as a unique understanding of the needs of the surrounding area. By having your say now, you can help ensure that the management plan recognises the Abbey's local as well as its international importance”.
Taking the Pleasure Gardens of 1781 as its core and inspiration, Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal possesses many layers of an extraordinary history that has shaped the abbey, the parkland, the Skell Valley, the rural setting, and extended further afield to other landscapes.
