Planting trial takes place for new garden in The Regent's Park to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II

The Royal Parks charity is undertaking a planting trial of hardy, pollinator-friendly and beautiful plants that will eventually be planted in the new garden being created in The Regent’s Park, to honour the life of Queen Elizabeth II. 

A team of ten Royal Parks apprentices, together with skilled gardeners, have planted 300 plants in a trial bed close to the proposed garden.

The innovative approach involves planting 65 different species in the beds, containing two mixes of soil: both are made from a sustainable mix of site top soil and recycled crushed concrete, with different percentages of concrete mixed within them. By growing the same plants in these two distinct environments, the trial will compare their performance.

The trial focuses on plants that will be more resilient to the pressures of climate change, such as Nepeta and Phlomis, in an approach that will be integral to the garden’s sustainable design. 

The Royal Parks’ gardeners have provided their expertise through the process, working alongside planting designer Noel Kingsbury who has selected the plants, and Landscape Architect firm, HTA. 

Over the next 12 months, The Royal Parks’ horticultural experts will closely monitor the trial and use the data to inform the final design of both the planting scheme and the soil composition for the new garden. 

Anne Tuomisto, Head Gardener at The Regent's Park, said:

"We're thrilled to conduct our first-ever planting trial for the new garden at The Regent’s Park. This is an exciting opportunity to advance our experimental approach to planting, by selecting species that can thrive in low-nutrient, man-made, sustainable soils while offering spectacular colour and biodiversity benefits. Testing this approach in real conditions is vital, and we're eager to see the results." 

Sustainability is at the core of this project. By repurposing materials like concrete, the garden aims to set a new standard for sustainable urban gardening, minimising waste and promoting eco-friendly practices. 

The new garden is set to open in 2026, to mark what would have been Queen Elizabeth II’s centenary year.