London’s Royal Parks have unveiled a new horticultural initiative aimed at revitalizing public green spaces across the city through a comprehensive plan titled Horticultural Vision 2026-31. The strategy, introduced at a recent event near Horse Guards Parade in St James’s Park, seeks to enhance the visitor experience by integrating striking plantings, sustainability measures, and heritage conservation across several iconic parks.
The Royal Parks encompass more than just well-known spaces like Hyde Park and Regent’s Park; they include extensive landscapes such as Bushy Park, Greenwich Park, and Richmond Park with its Isabella Plantation. Linda Yueh, chair of the Royal Parks, emphasized the accessibility and public benefit of the project, noting that while tens of millions visit annually—many without private gardens—such ambitious horticultural displays have typically been confined to locations requiring tickets or lengthy travel. The initiative intends to bring curated, impactful plantings directly into Londoners’ everyday environments.
The Royal Parks operate primarily as a charity, securing approximately 85 percent of their roughly £75 million annual budget through events and fundraising, with government contributions covering just 15 percent. Concerts and other money-raising activities hosted in the parks are crucial for maintaining the spaces under financial constraints.
Under the new vision, planting schemes will aim to create “curated scenes” designed to capture attention and combat what the plan describes as “plant blindness”—a widespread tendency for people to overlook the plants in their environment. At St James’s Park, for example, vibrant displays of French marigolds and zinnias were recently installed on a drought-resilient sloping bank, supported by water from a dedicated borehole. Verity Joyner, the park’s head gardener, highlighted the importance of design and location in protecting plantings from pests and foot traffic.
The plan also calls for variety and color beyond traditional greenery. New plantings will include exotic species such as banana plants and Howea palms near St James’s main lake, and bright purples and pinks in other areas. These choices echo Victorian-era exotic gardens, revived with an expanded palette of plant varieties suitable for London’s evolving climate.
Several experienced horticulturists are driving these efforts, including female head gardeners Beth Handley at Hyde Park and Anna Rafal at Regent’s Park. They work under Matthew Pottage, head of horticulture and landscape strategy, and Jack Aldridge, the Royal Parks’ first horticultural curator. Both bring expertise from the Royal Horticultural Society’s Wisley Garden, highlighting collaborations such as upcoming trials of agaves to adapt to warmer conditions.
Green Park, which suffered drought damage turning its lawns brown this summer, is set to transform into “Blue Park” with the planting of tens of thousands of blue-flowered camassias, creating a striking visual wave across its fields next spring. Similarly, Greenwich Park will see the addition of 130 pink-flowered Prunus ‘Sekiyama’ cherry trees, providing a two-week blossoming spectacle.
Hyde Park’s Rose Garden, currently underwhelming, will be renewed with 500 drought-resistant persica roses to support pollinators and showcase newly available varieties suited to changing weather. These initiatives respond to challenges posed by climate change, pests, and diseases, acknowledging that traditional lawns, while culturally significant, require adaptation rather than elimination.
The Royal Parks’ horticultural vision embraces change and innovation while preserving heritage elements, signaling a new era for London’s public gardens. Enhanced planting designs and sustainable practices aim to create more engaging, resilient spaces accessible to all city residents and visitors.