Who We Are
The Royal Parks Guild includes other incredible places that were once managed by the Royal Parks or have a long association with London’s Royal Parks, including Phoenix Park (Dublin), Osborne House (Isle of Wight), Ham House (Richmond, London) and Home Park (Richmond, London).
Our membership includes a variety of people who have had an association with these places. We also have a great number of supporters who help us achieve our vision, aims and objectives.
The places themselves have created sometimes a deep connection with people and there is a sense of family between many. Part of the Guild function is an alumni group for some and a social network for others.
Select an option from below to discover more about what the Guild does.
We keep our members informed of news about London’s Royal Parks, places once managed by the Royal Parks and other park related topics. We keep in touch with former and current colleagues and others associated with the parks, past and present.
We run activities, bring people together, and share information through social media, newsletters and e-bulletins. The Guild helps to create a sense of family – with a personal touch and sometimes, providing support when members are in need.
We include, in the Guild Family, those who have, or had, an association with the iconic eight parks, Brompton Cemetery and Victoria Tower Gardens managed by the Royal Parks Charity or parks and gardens previously managed by the Royal Parks such as Home Park and the historic gardens of Hampton Court Palace (managed by Historic Royal Palaces).
We give awards to those who have made an outstanding contribution to the management, care and conservation of the parks.
For involvement in an individual park or many, the awards are open to all, be it staff, volunteers or others associated with the parks, past and present.
This is for Royal Parks Apprentices to celebrate their success throughout their apprenticeship.
Helping to bring the past back to life with interesting stories, images, artifacts and oral history recordings.
We have a research team of Guild volunteers who seek out historical information which informs projects, podcasts, events, interpretation and more…
The picture opposite shows Barbara Taver on her Hyde Park Allotment.
We actively support those entering/developing their career within our industry. We are delighted to be able to help people who approach us for advice and support.
One of our success stories is the support we provide to the Royal Parks’ Apprenticeship Scheme with advice and encouragement from our volunteer experts.
Our annual Apprentice Awards scheme celebrates the achievement and dedication of individual apprentices and Royal Parks Apprenticeship Scheme overall.
The Guild ‘Discovery Days’ project is for horticultural trainees and apprentices helping us to inspire the next generation – supported by volunteers and Growing Generations partner organisations.
We have members who are excellent in their field and bring this to us in the form of an online talk. With guest panelists who contribute to the conversation.
Through this we enable our members to participate in the Guild no matter where they live.
We cover a broad range of subjects including gardening, wildlife conservation, sustainability, planting design and landscape architecture.
Members and supporters all have one thing in common – a desire to see the parks kept at the forefront of horticultural, environmental, landscape and cultural excellence.
For some, through their membership of Guild, this takes the form of becoming a volunteer or assisting in the activities of the parks or helping with the management of the Guild itself.
Others support apprenticeship initiatives, researching and recording the history and heritage of the parks, helping organise Guild visits and events, assisting with the award ceremonies or contributing to the e-bulletin and newsletter.