The horticultural apprentice who cares for Regent's Park

The Royal Parks charity, which cares for eight of London's parks, takes on up to 10 new paid horticultural apprentices every year.

They play a significant role in shaping and conserving London’s green spaces for the public, including Primrose Hill and The Regent's Park in north London.

Erin Whittaker, a 28-year-old apprentice at The Regent’s Park, said: "I studied art and design at university and then did various retail and office jobs, which weren’t really for me.

"During lockdown I began helping my mum out on some professional gardening jobs, and quickly fell in love with it.

Erin is one of the Royal Parks apprentices, who collectively help to care for the eight iconic parks (Image: Royal Parks)

"I decided to apply for The Royal Parks apprenticeship because I wanted to learn as I worked, and because the parks have such a variety of experiences to offer."

Ms Whittaker described how varied the job is - one some days you might be planting a new border, and others you will be marking football pitches.

The third-year apprentice added: "I’ve gained all sorts of skills, from rose pruning and topiary to mowing and tractor driving.

"There’s a big creative aspect to the job, as all the little decisions you make day-to-day can make a big impact in the parks.

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"It’s really rewarding to get positive feedback from members of the public, who get so much enjoyment out of what we do."

She added: "I never expected my life to go in this direction but I’m so glad it did!

"The world of horticulture is so broad, there are so many routes you could take. I’m excited to see where it leads me."

Royal parks have shone a light on the work of their valuable apprentices as part of National Apprenticeship Week (Image: Royal Parks)

The dedicated apprenticeship scheme led by The Royal Parks is aimed at creating a new generation of horticulturalists. Their work impacts communities, businesses, and the wider economy.

Adam Stoter, assistant park manager at The Royal Parks, oversees the apprenticeship programme. He 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."

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It has been a considerable success, with many former apprentices going on to become park managers, supervisors, or contract managers for The Royal Parks charity.

Other apprentices have gone on to work at high-profile locations, including Kew Gardens, Crystal Palace Football Club and Buckingham Palace.

Applications for the next round of apprenticeships open on March 25 and close on April 21.

National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) takes place between February 5 to 11, 2024 and is a chance for the education and skills sector to celebrate apprentice contributions nationwide.