RHS announces extensive investment

This year will see the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) launch the most extensive investment programme in its 207 year history. The investment will enable the RHS to involve, educate and inspire millions more gardeners throughout the country and has been made possible by the charity raising £18 million, from its own resources, together with a major fundraising campaign to raise a further £9 million.

Over the next five years the RHS will have a combined investment fund of some £27 million, enabling it to make some of the most significant and exciting changes in its history. The charity has raised £18 million from granting a 999-year lease on the Lawrence Hall and Conference Centre in London to Westminster School – the perfect partner to protect the heritage of the building which is owned by the RHS. The charity will continue to use the Lawrence Hall facilities for its existing four London Flower Shows.

A main feature of future investment is to make the charity more relevant to RHS members and to millions of people in the UK as well as inspiring a worldwide audience of gardeners. Among the initiatives planned is the redevelopment of the Lindley Hall and Library to create a stunning new open plan library  and exhibition gallery.

The Society also plans to create a world-class scientific research centre for the benefit of all gardeners and to create regional centres across the UK, in both urban and rural locations. These regional centres, will be based at RHS gardens or partner colleges and gardens, and will help the RHS work with partners in all forms of community gardening as well as supporting local groups such as Britain in Bloom.

The charity will also create its first inner city garden as an oasis of green for local residents, offering educational initiatives, including school visits, workshops and gardening courses. A wide variety of locations and opportunities will be explored in the search for this garden.

Further investment in the RHS website will provide a more engaging and interactive medium with a wealth of ideas and expertise.

Two additional teaching rooms will be created at RHS Garden Wisley, Surrey, (pictured left)   and a new restaurant will be added. More space will be created to enable specialist nurseries to promote British grown, rare and unusual plants and the entrance to the garden will be transformed to uplift the sense of arrival that befits a garden of such international importance.

At the RHS Garden Hyde Hall, in Essex, the charity will be increasing the horticultural content, including creating the UK’s largest cultivated perennial meadow and a Mediterranean edible garden. Here too, the RHS will develop a new Learning Centre, created for children and adults to develop their gardening skills.

Sue Biggs, RHS Director General, said: "Our plans will help transform communities, add much needed scientific knowledge and safeguard horticulture for the benefit of future generations and the environment. If you care about our planet, you should care about plants and that’s why we want everyone to share the best in gardening.

"We believe passionately in the need to invest in the future of horticulture and give more people more opportunities to garden."

The RHS is the UK's foremost gardening charity, helping to inspire millions of people to garden. It is entirely funded by its members, visitors and supporters. To find out more about the charity log onto: www.rhs.org.uk


Picture caption: (1) RHS Garden Hyde Hall © RHS

2) RHS Garden Wisley, © Reckless Gardener