All Change at the Top - National Garden Scheme

One of the UK's leading gardens and health charities, the National Garden Scheme, has announced changes to two of its top leadership roles: President and Chief Executive.

New President

After a decade of dedicated service, Dame Mary Berry is stepping down as President of the National Garden Scheme. Taking her place is celebrated gardener, writer, and broadcaster Alan Titchmarsh.

Dame Mary Berry commented: "It has been a privilege to serve as President of the National Garden Scheme, and I have enjoyed every minute of it. My husband Paul and I opened our own garden in support of the charity for more than 20 years, so I was very familiar with the charity's extraordinary offering of enjoyment for visitors and charitable impact. During the ten years of my presidency that impact has expanded massively thanks to the efforts of so many people. At the same time the charity has championed the remarkable benefits of gardens and gardening to everyone's health and wellbeing. I am delighted to be handing the baton to my dear friend Alan who I admire with great affection, a proper hands on gardener who will bring warmth and enthusiasm to the role and I am thrilled that the Trustees have kindly asked me to stay involved as President Emeritus."

Alan Titchmarsh shared his excitement about the new role: "I am thrilled to have been invited to become President of the National Garden Scheme and honoured to be stepping into the elegant shoes of my dear friend, the peerless Dame Mary Berry. In my opinion there is nothing quite like the National Garden Scheme, either in the world of gardens and horticulture or beyond. Not only does it offer visitors thoroughly affordable enjoyment and education – and at the same time championing the varied gardening skills of the British nation; it also raises and distributes quite extraordinary sums of money. More than £4 million raised and £3.5 million distributed in 2024 alone. Bravo! It has been doing this for nigh on one hundred years and that I will be the charity's President when it celebrates its centenary in 2027 is something for which I am immensely grateful and to which I will give my all."

New Chief Executive

This autumn, Alan will be joined by the charity's new Chief Executive, Dr Richard Claxton.

A GP for 25 years, Dr Claxton has long been a proponent of the health benefits of gardening. He founded the charity Gardening4health and in 2023 launched an NHS Therapy Garden in Tonbridge. He also brings experience in garden design, healthcare gardening, and charitable work through his roles with Greenfingers Charity and as a guide at Sissinghurst Castle Garden.

Dr Claxton said: "I'm absolutely thrilled to be appointed as the new Chief Executive of the National Garden Scheme. As a charity it's the perfect fit for me: combining beautiful gardens and the wonderful generosity of their owners opening their private sanctuaries for us all to enjoy. As garden visitors, we join in with this generosity and together we all make a huge and valuable contribution to a range of brilliant causes across the country, with supporting nurses and improving healthcare at the forefront. The National Garden Scheme is a champion of the impact that gardens and gardening can have directly on people's health, which is a cause very close to my heart.

"It's a huge challenge and one I am looking forward to. I'm all too aware of the shoes I have to fill; for fifteen years George Plumptre has led the charity from strength to strength, raising its profile and the level of its donations to new heights – and maintaining its impact in spite of garden closures in the pandemic. I look forward to building on this incredible foundation. The National Garden Scheme's work underpins the vital links between gardens, generosity, health, and community - all of which we need now more than ever. I couldn't be prouder to contribute to this amazing charity."

Chairman of the National Garden Scheme, Rupert Tyler, added: "Filling these two vital roles at the National Garden Scheme was always going to be a huge challenge, but we couldn't be more delighted to welcome Alan Titchmarsh and Richard Claxton. The Board of Trustees looks forward to them continuing to strengthen and build on the legacy established by their predecessors and, together with our fabulous garden owners, volunteers and staff, taking the charity confidently into its next 100 years."