A 30-YEAR plan to conserve and enhance the World Heritage Site at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal near Ripon for future generations will be unveiled next week.

The abbey, which dates from 1132, is regarded as the most complete Cistercian remains in Britain.

The surrounding medieval Studley Royal estate, including water gardens and deer park, help to make Fountains one of the country's top tourist attractions.

The estate was once a popular holiday haunt for the Queen Mother when her friends the Vyner family lived at Fountains Hall. Ownership of the estate later passed to the then West Riding County Council, North Yorkshire County Council and latterly the National Trust.

Preparation of the World Heritage Site Management Plan started in November 1999 and was set for completion last year.

Key points include setting a vision for Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal and explaining why protection is so vital as well as the development of 30-year objectives, and an outline of detailed six-year objectives and how they will be introduced.

The plan, a requirement of the site's World Heritage status, is being launched on Tuesday in partnership with the National Trust and English Heritage. It will be officially unveiled at the Temple of Piety, overlooking the Studley water garden, by Fiona Reynolds, director general of the National Trust and Carole Fouter, acting chief executive of English Heritage.

Among those at the launch will be pupils of nearby Fountains Church of England Primary School who will recite work on the theme of what is special for them about the abbey and Studley Royal.