Home / Lifestyle / RHS Secures £2.3M After Garden Suffers 'Traffic Jam'
RHS Secures £2.3M After Garden Suffers 'Traffic Jam'
4 Oct
Summary
- RHS received £2.3m compensation for A3/M25 roadwork disruption.
- Disruption caused an estimated £13m loss and 350,000 fewer visits.
- RHS director champions community gardening and hospital gardens.
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has secured £2.3 million in compensation after major roadworks on the A3 and M25 caused three years of traffic disruption at its Wisley garden. The charity estimated the disruption led to a £13 million financial loss and a reduction of 350,000 annual visits.
RHS Director General Clare Matterson described the compensation process as exhausting, stating that while more would have been preferable, she is grateful for the award. She highlighted the significant impact of the "three-year traffic jam" on the premier garden.
Matterson also expressed hope that Prime Minister Andy Burnham will champion gardening, noting his past appreciation for RHS Garden Bridgewater. She emphasized gardening's proven health benefits and the vast potential for community gardening projects across the UK.
Furthermore, Matterson defended the RHS Chelsea Flower Show against recent criticism, calling it the charity's "savior" and its biggest fundraiser. The RHS is planning a significant push for community gardening, aiming to provide unused land to residents for cultivation, addressing a key barrier to participation.
The charity is also working to establish gardens in NHS hospitals to offer respite for patients, families, and staff, reporting positive impacts on staff retention and morale in facilities that already have such gardens. The RHS is committed to making horticulture more accessible, with an upcoming urban show in Bristol focusing on smaller spaces and balcony gardening.
