Growing Skills, Growing Futures: Beth’s Story
October 19, 2025
For Beth Handley, a gardener at The Royal Parks in London, returning to the classroom wasn’t about starting over — it was about building on five years of professional experience and taking her practice to the next level.
“After working professionally as a gardener for 5 years it felt like a really good time to come back to the classroom to consolidate my learning and make sure I was incorporating current thinking and best practice.”
Beth chose the Level 3 Practical Horticulture course, a programme designed for those already working in the industry who want to strengthen their knowledge, expand their skills, and connect with others in the sector.
One of the highlights for Beth was the collaborative atmosphere:
“The Level 3 Practical Course is very collaborative. Darren and Helen are great facilitators, bring a good energy and have a wealth of knowledge and experience to share; but just as important to me was the ability to learn and share with my classmates who were working and studying across the breadth of the industry.”
Sustainability at the Heart of Horticulture
For Beth, one of the biggest takeaways was the emphasis on sustainability as a guiding principle:
“The most important thing the course gave me was to instil sustainability as a core principle for my decision making at work, guiding everyday practice and planning future projects.”
This learning came at just the right time. Beth is currently working to develop horticultural areas in Hyde Park, responding to the challenges of climate change and ensuring that planting schemes are resilient for the future.
The photos showcase some of the results — resilient planting designed and maintained outside the Royal Parks’ head office in Hyde Park. They represent not just beautiful spaces, but also a shift in thinking towards long-term, climate-conscious horticulture.
Beth’s story is a brilliant example of how investing in skills and knowledge can directly impact careers, workplaces, and even some of London’s most iconic green spaces.
Are you ready to take your next step in horticulture? Explore our Level 3 Practical Horticulture course and discover how it could help you grow your future.