As Head Gardeners, Fiona Packe will lead the establishment and maintenance of the new garden, as well as other key horticultural features across The Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill. She will oversee a dedicated team of gardeners and volunteers, guiding the planting and establishment of the new space, which has been designed with biodiversity, climate resilience, and sustainability at its heart.
Previously, Packe worked at the historic gardens of the Middle Temple and she ran her own garden maintenance business in West Essex and East London. Her career has included placements at gardens such as Great Dixter, Beth Chatto’s, Charleston House, and Gravetye Manor.
“I’m thrilled to be appointed Head Gardener for this remarkable project. It’s a rare opportunity to be part of a garden from the very first plantings through to maturity. This space will be a beacon for the future of horticulture, showing that we can create stunning, climate-resilient green spaces from former brownfield sites, while inspiring and educating visitors on how to build biodiversity into their own gardens,” said Packe.
Packe has a fascination with drought-resilient and Mediterranean planting, knowledge that will be invaluable in shaping the garden’s climate-adaptive design, where recycled demolition concrete will be transformed into innovative growing mediums.
Nick Biddle, Park Manager, The Regent’s Park added: “We’re delighted to welcome Fiona as Head Gardener for the new garden in The Regent’s Park. Her breadth of experience, creative vision and passion for sustainable horticulture make her the ideal person to help bring this once-in-a-generation project to life. This garden will not only commemorate the life of Queen Elizabeth II, but also demonstrate innovative approaches to gardening that meet the challenges of our changing climate.”
