Fountains horticulture trainee Robert Kirkham won the Royal Parks Guild first-year apprentice award for planting a Union flag flower bed at Poet's Corner and a cyclist bed at Pembroke Lodge in time for the jubilee and Olympic road race.
"Getting the bedding displays planted up for the jubilee and Olympics ready to wow visitors this summer has really built up my confidence," he said.
Graduating apprentices were presented with their awards at the Garden Museum. The scheme, run by the parks, landscape contractors Enterprise, Fountains, Turfsoil and Veolia and Capel Manor College, aims to help youngsters work in a range of horticulture careers.