23 July 2003
Horticulture Weeks life time acheivement award

The Royal Parks Mike Fitt's first memories of gardening were of digging up fossils in his parents' garden at the age of four. He later won a prize at primary school for creating a miniature garden in a tray. By 11, he had a Saturday job on a smallholding in Hampshire where he was "commissioned" to design and build a pond and rockery.

It was while building another pond for a family friend that he was pointed towards the Royal Parks apprenticeship scheme. He won the top student of the year prize for 1969 and gained the highest marks nationally in the City & Guilds amenity horticulture exam in 1975. He went on to spend a decade as estate supervisor at Capel Manor College.

He moved back to the Royal Parks and, after the 1987 storms, played a leading role in clearing and replacing parks' trees. As superintendent of Richmond and Bushy Parks, Fitt set up liaison groups for conservation and sports use. He also worked with local disability groups on access issues. He initiated the development of Richmond Park's Holly Lodge Centre with the catchphrase "special needs in a special place". He also helped the park to be recognised as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. At Bushy Park, he set up an environmental centre and developed the idea of a Millennium Wood.

In 2001, he became director of parks and deputy chief executive for the Royal Parks Agency. He was awarded an OBE for services to the Royal Parks in 2003. In recent years, he helped form the Urban Parks Forum (now GreenSpace) and became chair of the World Heritage Site executive group at Greenwich Park. After early retirement, Fitt will become honorary archivist for the Royal Parks and is setting up an ex-staff association to bring together former colleagues.

A Horticulture Week Awards judge said: "There are few people who can match Mike's enthusiasm, flair, knowledge and integrity throughout a long and illustrious career in horticulture. And if that isn't enough, he's also an incredibly nice bloke."

Awarded to the individual who, in the opinion of the judges, has made the most outstanding contribution to horticulture.

source: Horticulture Week