The leaves are turning in the eight Royal Parks and with the successful 2012 Games behind us, we begin a new season.
Two weeks ago, I was delighted to be invited to present this year's achievement awards to The Royal Parks' apprentices.
The Royal Parks has a long and proud history of horticulture, which was on show to the world during the Diamond Jubilee and the London 2012 Games when our specially commissioned floral crown sat in St James's Park to mark her Majesty The Queen's sixty year reign.
The Royal Parks Apprenticeship Scheme, which celebrates its 50th anniverary this year and is a partnership between The Royal Parks, The Royal Parks Guild and our Landscape Maintenance Contractors, reminds me of the many hands that protect, preserve and enhance our parks.
That's why this autumn, staff, apprentices and volunteers from across The Royal Parks will be joining me to post on our blog, keeping you up to date and providing more information about our work with Friends and supporters, conservation, flora and fauna, monuments and park history, improvement projects and other attractions.
We hope you enjoy our autumn blogs.