The project named ‘Inspiring People to Grow’, supported by a £4m National Lottery Heritage Fund grant, has included the restoration of a historic laboratory and the creation of a centre for horticultural science and learning.
RHS Garden Wisley has a remarkable history as a place for learning and experimentation, inspiring passion and excellence in the science, art and practice of horticulture. In order for the garden to attract new visitors, it became evident that the site, and its activities, were ripe for review and revitalisation.
In 2016, the RHS applied for, and was successfully awarded an initial £200,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. This enabled RHS Wisley to develop plans and pull together staff and consultants in preparation for the project. In 2018 the charity went onto secure support for a £4m grant, and the project officially commenced in October 2018.
Key achievements
Opening up RHS Wisley to all
The garden is now more accessible to visitors through inclusive facilities, vehicles and step-free garden routes. New programmes including British Sign Language tours, quieter sessions during events and sensory backpacks have also been introduced, as well as features such as Braille text panels and audio listening posts.
A shuttle bus connecting Woking town centre to RHS Wisley, in conjunction with free and discounted ticketing schemes, was also launched, helping visitors to reach the garden.
“Three of our guests speak little English and most live pretty isolated lives, but with the incredible gardens, any language barrier became less apparent as we enjoyed the wonder of the greenhouses, the incredible vegetable plots and varied borders,” says local charity The Lighthouse 2023.
Inspiring people to grow
An RHS Wisley Community Outreach team was established and, through listening and consulting, has developed a new programme to attract and engage more people. Over the duration of the project, more than 23,000 participants have enjoyed free hands-on gardening activities and events, building green skills and contributing to happier, healthier communities.
“I have really enjoyed being part of this project,” says Jane Vincent, Sight for Surrey. “The people who access our services have gained a huge amount from the community events that RHS Wisley have put on. The fact that the garden and facilities are accessible has given families a destination where they can relax in and many now have the confidence to visit the gardens independently once they have spent time there with our groups. The indoor community spaces are a triumph in that people do not struggle with sound bouncing around which can be extremely disorientating and overwhelming.”
The number of volunteers at RHS Wisley has nearly doubled since the project began, with volunteers contributing more than 70,000 hours. New, flexible and more diverse volunteer roles were introduced so that more people could participate, with the RHS supporting staff and volunteers to grow their knowledge, skills and confidence to be able to support the project.
Through new interpretations, events and exhibitions the aim was to highlight the science and heritage of RHS Wisley and attract and engage more people. From learning about soil science to live cooking demonstrations at the Festival of Flavours, to Hilltop Live talks. The overall programme’s goal is to inspire people to grow plants, skills and knowledge and to recognise RHS as a charity that is doing good in the world.
Supporting the next generation
Supporting young people to grow has been key and has been done by upskilling or providing training through horticultural apprenticeships. By expanding our secondary school offering, we are supporting young people to grow. Numbers of secondary school pupils visiting RHS Wisley has more than tripled, offering guided workshops and self-guided visits to improve students’ understanding of gardening for people and the planet. Youth voice has been further elevated through the Wisley Youth Panel and associated Youth Takeover Events, providing deeper understanding of how RHS Wisley can become more relevant to future generations.
“RHS Hilltop provides much-needed space to expand people’s lifelong learning adventure with gardening,” says Dr Suzanne Moss, Director of Learning & Public Engagement. “Two new learning studios with a dedicated teaching garden and three new inspiring gardens are really strengthening RHS Wisley’s education and growing skills and networks.”
Growing our story for the future
The UK’s first dedicated horticultural scientific centre of excellence, RHS Hilltop – The Home of Gardening Science, opened in 2021. The science and collections have been safely rehoused and with room to grow, no longer at risk from pest and environmental damage.
“RHS Hilltop is enhancing knowledge and understanding of how gardening nationally and globally can make big environmental and human health impacts, from local, individual and collective actions,” says Professor Alistair Griffiths, RHS Director of Science.
Three new gardens were created by RHS Chelsea Flower Show gold-medal winning garden designers. They surround RHS Hilltop and act as ‘living laboratories’: the Wildlife Garden, World Food Garden and Wellbeing Garden.
In 2023 The Old Laboratory opened its doors to the public for the first time in its 100+ year history. Inside exhibitions share the hidden stories of science and learning at RHS Wisley. The RHS has worked with young and community curators to further grow our stories and collections for the future.
Going digital
The RHS Garden Wisley app was created to deepen people’s connection to the garden, and the new RHS Digital Collections portal provides a place for digital visitors to explore more than 100,000 collections objects, spanning over 500 years of gardening history and science.
The project has been a huge team effort, involving RHS staff, external partners and consultants, and has ensured people continue to visit RHS Wisley to learn about and enjoy horticulture for many years to come.