Key facts
- The RHS received £2.3 million in government compensation for disruption caused by roadworks.
- The charity estimated a £13 million loss and a reduction of 350,000 annual visits due to the A3/M25 upgrade.
- RHS Director General Clare Matterson defended the Chelsea Flower Show against criticism, noting its popularity and fundraising success.
- The RHS plans a significant push towards community gardening, aiming to provide unused land for residents.
- A survey indicated 2.5 million people are engaged in community gardening, with 13 million more interested.
- The RHS is also working to establish gardens in NHS hospitals to provide respite for patients and staff.
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has been awarded £2.3 million in compensation by the government following three years of significant disruption caused by roadworks on the A3 and M25, which impacted its premier garden in Wisley. The charity estimated the disruption led to a £13 million loss and a reduction of 350,000 visits annually.
Clare Matterson, the RHS director general, described the compensation process as "exhausting" but expressed gratitude for the outcome. She noted that the government had previously overlooked the health benefits of gardening, despite its potential to reduce pressure on the NHS and the significant land area UK gardens occupy.
Matterson also defended the RHS's Chelsea Flower Show, which faced criticism this year for its focus on charities and eco-friendly gardens. She stated that the show is "Chelsea is our saviour" and that tickets sold out 10 days before its opening, highlighting its popularity and status as the charity's biggest fundraiser. She suggested that criticism often targets popular events, remarking, "People, I guess, complain about anything popular, don’t they."
Looking ahead, the RHS plans to heavily promote community gardening, encouraging local authorities to allocate unused land for residents to grow produce. A survey indicated that 2.5 million people are actively involved in community gardening, with an additional 13 million expressing interest, though access to land remains a primary barrier.
Matterson is personally involved in a community garden and believes it fosters wellbeing and community empowerment. She hopes that Andy Burnham, who she noted is a visitor to RHS Garden Bridgewater, will champion community gardening. The RHS is also working to establish gardens in NHS hospitals to provide respite for patients, families, and staff, with early results showing improved staff retention and morale in facilities that have them.
Addressing the historical perception of gardening societies as elitist, Matterson is focused on making the RHS more inclusive, with plans for an urban show in Bristol targeting small spaces and balcony gardens. She posed the question, "Who is gardening for in the 21st century?" and affirmed the organization's strategy to make horticulture accessible to as many people as possible.