The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has announced that Matthew Pottage will be leaving the charity at the end of May to take up a new role at The Royal Parks.

The horticulturist has been at the RHS for 20 years, the last nine years of which have been spent as curator of RHS Garden Wisley. During that time, he has overseen a series of projects, including the creation of the Exotic Garden and the Wisteria Walk as well as the recent addition of the rainwater capture Clear Lake.

Before leaving to become head of horticulture and landscape strategy at The Royal Parks, Pottage will also oversee the completion of the new Piet Oudolf Landscape that is due to be completed this spring. He says curating Wisley had been “challenging and rewarding in equal measure” but that he is leaving the garden “much better with more personality, theatre, detail and exciting plants around each corner.”

RHS director general Clare Matterson CBE says Pottage is a “fantastic example” of how the RHS helps to grow careers, from starting out as a student to managing one of its flagship gardens and now moving onto his new role.

“Whilst we, and me personally, are sad that Matt is leaving, 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 Garden Wisley for today and future generations.”

Pottage adds: “I am now ready for a new challenge and leading on the vision, strategy and horticulture across the eight 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.”