Chelsea Pensioners visit the Hyde Park 'super nursery'

A week after the RHS Chelsea Flower Show took place in the spectacular grounds of The Royal Hospital Chelsea, it was the turn of Hospital residents, the Chelsea Pensioners, to take a trip to Hyde Park to celebrate their ongoing partnership with The Royal Parks charity. Most recently, this has included apprentices from The Royal Parks’ volunteering at the Flower Show.

The Pensioners enjoyed a tour of the ‘super nursery’ in Hyde Park to see first-hand the purpose-built space which grows the 450,000 seasonal bedding and herbaceous plants which are planted in the world class flower displays across the eight Royal Parks – including the scarlet pelargoniums, grown to match the tunics of The Queen’s Guard, which are planted in front of Buckingham Palace.

Two of The Royal Parks’ apprentices joined the group from The Royal Hospital Chelsea for the visit. The apprentices discussed the preparation for the Coronation that they’ve recently been involved with, and their recent experience helping to set up the Chelsea Flower Show. The apprentices worked hard to bring to life the spectacular designs and gorgeous floral displays of Darren Hawkes, Chris Beardshaw, and Mark Gregory of Landform UK. The Royal Parks’ apprenticeship scheme trains the next generation of horticultural experts.

The Royal Parks’ nursery manager gifted the visitors’ scarlet pelargoniums at the close of the tour.

The Pensioners have previously worked with The Royal Parks’ apprentices to create a wildflower meadow at Brompton Cemetery as part of an initiative to commemorate the Royal Parks’ staff who lost their lives in WWI.

Rob Dowling, Nursery Manager at The Royal Parks, said: “We were excited to welcome the group from The Royal Hospital Chelsea to the ‘super nursery’ today and show them what happens behind the scenes. Bringing together the Pensioners and our apprentices has been a wonderful opportunity to exchange experiences and enthusiasm for horticulture, further inspiring the next generation.”

Ric Glenn, Head of Grounds and Gardens at The Royal Hospital Chelsea, said: “Our keen horticultural Chelsea Pensioners were thrilled to have been invited for a behind-the- scenes tour of the Royal Parks Super Nursery in Hyde Park and meet some of Royal Parks Apprentices.

“The visit arose from the Battlefields to Butterflies Memorial Meadow project at Brompton Cemetery which is a partnership project between The Royal Parks, the Friends of Brompton Cemetery and the Royal Hospital Chelsea Pensioners and we hope that we can continue to partner together on exciting projects such as these.”