After 20 years at RHS Garden Wisley, nearly nine of them as Curator, Matthew Pottage is spreading his roots and will be leaving the RHS at the end of May to take up a new role, Head of Horticulture and Landscape Strategy, at The Royal Parks.

Beginning his time at RHS Wisley as a student, Matt’s career over nearly two decades has seen him progress from Garden Manager to becoming Curator with responsibility for all living collections within the 200 acre site and overseeing a team of 110, including students and apprentices, and 150 volunteers.

During his time as Curator at the internationally renowned garden, Matt has overseen the creation of the Exotic Garden, the Wisteria Walk, the Heather Landscape, a dedicated orchid house and more recently the new rainwater capture Clear Lake on the site of the old trials field.  The final project Matt will oversee, finishing this spring, will be the new Piet Oudolf Landscape.

Clare Matterson, RHS Director General, says; “Matt has made an extraordinary contribution to RHS Garden Wisley – he’s dedicated two decades to this magnificent garden and, both the splendour of the garden and the amazing team that looks after it are in no small way thanks to his vision, dedication, passion and enthusiasm. Thank you Matt.  I’m proud of how the RHS grows careers and Matt is a fantastic example of this from starting as a student to managing one of the best gardens in the world and now moving on to this exciting new opportunity.

“Whilst we, and me personally, are sad that Matt is leaving to take up this opportunity, we understand that this is a wonderful new challenge for Matt and he also feels strongly that it is time for someone else to take up the baton – or should we say trowel! – and continue to work with Tim Upson, Director of Gardens and Horticulture, and teams to develop and grow RHS Wisley for today and future generations.”

Matt Pottage, Curator RHS Garden Wisley, says:  “I feel I leave the garden landscape working as a whole much better with more personality, theatre, detail and exciting plants around each corner. Curating this vast and much-loved garden has been challenging and rewarding in equal measure.

“The RHS has grown me from Student to Curator, and the last eight and a half years as Curator have been a privilege. The affection I hold for the garden, the team I have worked with, and the wider charity, runs deep.

“I am now ready for a new challenge and leading on the vision, strategy and horticulture across the 8 Royal Parks is an opportunity I can’t refuse.  I Ieave RHS Wisley as one of the world’s finest, and most exciting gardens and look forward to watching a new Curator take the garden onto its next stages as it continues to grow and flourish.”

Matt will be at the RHS until the end of May to the finish of the delivery of the Piet Oudolf Landscape and also to be at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.  Both the RHS and Matt see themselves continuing to work together in some form in the future.