About
Women are often underrepresented in the parks and open spaces industry.
Women in Parks Horticulture Landscape is a group of women who want to support women in our industry to grow, flourish and be voices in the sector.
Meet the Leadership Committee
Who we are
We are a small volunteer committee of women working across parks, horticulture, and landscape roles. Together, we run a mentoring scheme, coordinate events, and connect mentees with supportive peers and role models.
Our committee brings experience from local authorities, charities, community gardens, and landscape practices. We share a commitment to creating more inclusive, equitable, and joyful green spaces by championing women’s leadership at every career stage.
What the committee does
The mentoring committee:
• Oversees the mentoring scheme
• Matches mentees and mentors based on goals and experience
• Provides guidance, tools, and check-ins during the mentoring cycle
• Organises interactive sessions and networking opportunities
• Collects feedback to keep improving the scheme each year
Every committee member plays a part — from coordinating applications and communications to supporting mentors, planning events, and nurturing partnerships that widen opportunities for women in the sector.
If you’d like to get involved or learn more about the committee, please contact us — we welcome new voices, collaborators, and ideas.
Getting involved
We hope that you will be able to join in one of our network or interactive events that are online or in person. If you can support the network by helping with the mentoring scheme by matching mentors to mentees, event organising, partnership development, communications (social media and website), and evaluation. Together we make sure the scheme runs smoothly, remains inclusive, and stays rooted in the realities of working in parks, horticulture, and landscape.
Our Leadership Team
Emma McNamara
Ruth Lin Wong Holmes – Head of Landscape & Public Realm at London Legacy Development Corporation at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
Ruth Lin Wong Holmes
Philippa Reece – General Manager, Sheffield Park and Garden, National Trust
Philippa Reece is a senior leader in public space management with over two decades of experience driving strategic initiatives across municipal authorities, social housing, and NGOs. As General Manager at The National Trust, she leads climate adaptation strategies for historic woodland gardens, aligning operational practice with cutting-edge environmental science.
Her career includes pioneering national standards for green spaces in the social housing sector, securing the first Green Flag Award in Northern England. Philippa has shaped regional sustainability agendas, contributing to Greater Manchester’s inaugural Green Summit and lecturing at Manchester University. Her leadership in environmental stewardship earned formal recognition at Buckingham Palace.
An experienced international assessor for the Green Flag Award, Philippa has evaluated sites across the UK and globally, including the Netherlands, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Portugal.
Pippa Reece
Liz Stuffins
Stefania Horne – Strategic Director Neighbourhood Operations at Dacorum Borough Council
Women in Parks Horticulture Landscape 