Isle of Wight Council will welcome senior representatives from The Royal Parks on 1 March when they visit the Island to discuss a formal partnership with the council's parks and countryside department.

The Royal Parks and the Isle of Wight Council plan to formulate a mutually beneficial working relationship to share a range of best practice, training and development opportunities as well as horticultural expertise.

Mark Camley, Chief Executive, The Royal Parks said: "This is an excellent opportunity for The Royal Parks and Isle of Wight Council to share best practice, explore ways that we can work together in the future, and look to provide a better experience for our respective park visitors."

Cllr Tim Hunter-Henderson, Isle of Wight Council Cabinet Member for the Environment and Transport said: "Here on the Isle of Wight we have responsibility for a range of urban parks, countryside, beaches, open spaces and a botanic garden and this new partnership presents us with a great opportunity to learn from the experiences and expertise of The Royal Parks."

Media enquiries:

For further information please contact: Katy Murray, The Royal Parks on 0300 061 2128 or email kmurray@royalparks.gsi.gov.uk.

Isle of Wight Council: Anna Symcox on 019 8382 3544 or anna.symcox@iow.gov.uk.

Photocall: Members of the media are invited to attend a photocall with Isle of Wight Council and The Royal Parks at 2pm at the Royal Hotel, Ventnor on Monday 2 March 2009.

Notes to Editors

• Representatives from The Royal Parks will arrive on the Isle of Wight on the evening of Sunday 1 March and commence two full days of talks on Monday 2 March. They depart on the afternoon of Tuesday 3 March 2009.
• A working lunch will take place at the Royal Hotel, Ventnor on Monday 2 March, providing the Leader of the Isle of Wight Council and the Chief Executive, along with invited directors and members with the opportunity to discuss the proposed partnership and associated benefits for both parties.
• On Tuesday 3 March, a workshop will be held at Ventnor Botanic Garden to draw up the partnership agreement and produce a list of objectives for the next year. These are likely to include opportunities for sharing best practice, joint training and development opportunities, community horticulture experience and the exchange of biodiversity and landscape management expertise.
• Isle of Wight Council staff will take the visitors to Fort Victoria Country Park, Ventnor Botanic Garden and along part of the Island's coastal trail to demonstrate the Island's varied parks and countryside.

About Isle of Wight Council:

For further information please visit: www.iwight.com

About The Royal Parks:

The Royal Parks is an executive agency of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

The Royal Parks are: Bushy Park, The Green Park, Greenwich Park, Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, The Regent's Park and Primrose Hill, Richmond Park and St James's Park.

For further information please visit: www.royalparks.org.uk