Portrait of Jay Rathod, apprentice at The Royal Parks

Switching pint-pulling for pruning - meet the apprentices caring for London’s Royal Parks

In celebration of National Apprenticeship Week, The Royal Parks charity is shining a light on the valuable work of the park’s apprentices, who help shape London’s green spaces including those who care for Kensington Gardens, St. James’s Park and Bushy Park.

Emily McGhie

4 min read · 5 February 2024

The charity, which cares for London’s eight iconic Royal Parks, takes on up to 10 new paid horticultural apprentices every year, to pass on expertise to the next generation of horticulturalists, and to help shape and conserve London’s green spaces for the public to enjoy.

The scheme prides itself on its accessibility and is open to people of all ages. Many of the charity’s apprentices have entered the role after changing careers- such as switching from a career in the hospitality industry or retail, while some have begun the apprenticeship aged 18.

For four days a week, the apprentices work in one of the Royal Parks, including St. James’s Park and Kensington Gardens, and study at Capel Manor College in The Regent’s Park on the remaining day.

The course lasts a minimum of two years, and apprentices will receive a Level 2 qualification in Horticulture Operations. The Royal Parks are recognised as centres of excellence for horticulture and sustainable garden management and learn from gardeners at the top of their game. Apprentices will master valuable skills, ranging from plant identification and soil science to cultivation and landscape design, to parkland management and pest control, with hands-on training in operating horticulture machinery.

Apprentices also have access to the Hyde Park Nursery, which grows 450,000 plants a year, supplying the gardens across all of the Royal Parks. Here, the apprentices learn about propagation, and help to grow plants for the flowerbed displays seen by the parks’ 70 million annual visitors.

Rupert Lovibond, 40, from Hanworth, West London, previously worked at a pub before applying for the horticultural apprenticeship at The Royal Parks’ Bushy Park, the second largest Royal Park spanning over 1000 acres.

The first-year apprentice said:

“I love education, and I really wanted to be part of parks in general. It’s absolutely amazing for your mental health.

“I cannot even put into words how much I’ve learned. It’s really nice to be able to say that about yourself, even at 40 years old.

“You get a buzz learning all this new stuff. Even if it’s something that you wouldn’t necessarily think that you’d be into.

“I love my football, I love my sport, but suddenly, I love gardening. It’s absolutely wonderful. You meet new people, you learn new things, and you’re out in the open.”

Jasmine Talbot-Cooper, 29, worked in an office job before embarking on the scheme, the second-year apprentice at St. James’s Park said:

“Having grown up on a farm, the outdoors was nothing new to me, but once I moved away from the countryside and into the city, my love for the outdoors came back in full force; especially over lock-down, I knew a career change was in order and horticulture called to me. Apprenticeships open a world of possibilities and I feel grateful for this opportunity, the amount I get to learn, the once in a lifetime events, being involved in The Royal Parks is such an honour and it’s the perfect first step into a career in Horticulture."

Apprentice Jasmine Talbot-Cooper tending the flower beds outside Buckingham Palace — Apprentice Jasmine Talbot-Cooper in St. James's Park

Jay Rathod, 30, based in Hackney, previously worked as a Store Manager on Oxford Street. The second-year apprentice working in Kensington Gardens said:

“I love being around nature and appreciate the way nature is forgiving and how quickly everything comes back to life if anything were to happen to it. As Nature can nurture the planet, it can also nurture your mental state. Working in Horticulture allows me to give back to the world and contribute to the green spaces around me. I love working with local communities and enjoy the way we can come together and work on a project that will improve the parks and benefit future generations."

Apprentice Jay Rathod pruning a plant — Apprentice Jay Rathod in Kensington Gardens

Adam Stoter, Assistant Park Manager at The Royal Parks, who oversees the apprenticeship programme, said:

“The theme of this year’s National Apprenticeship Week is “Skills for Life,” and this is exactly what The Royal Parks scheme is all about. Our apprenticeship programme is dedicated to fostering enduring skills in horticulture, providing a solid foundation for success in this field.”

“We look forward to nurturing the next generation of passionate horticulturalists who will thrive with the skills they develop through our program."

Many former apprentices at The Royal Parks have gone on to become park managers, supervisors or contract managers for the charity. Others have taken on roles at other high-profile locations worldwide, such as Kew Gardens, Crystal Palace Football Club, and Buckingham Palace.