Greener Skills Garden

This winter, work begins on the ‘Greener Skills Garden’ at RHS Garden Wisley - the first of five new spaces designed to inspire and train the next generation of horticulturists.

Discover the Greener Skills Garden: A Space for Growth and Inspiration

This winter, we’re breaking ground on an exciting new project at RHS Garden Wisley: The Greener Skills Garden. This garden is the first of five planned across all RHS Gardens, designed to inspire and equip the next generation of horticulturists and encourage our visitors with up to date Planet-friendly Gardening tips backed from our Science team.

Our New Shoots and Science & Collections teams have joined forces with garden designer Dave Green to bring this vision to life. New Shoots is the RHS initiative to increase the number, and diversity, of individuals accessing horticultural careers. As part of this objective the RHS identified the need for practical, hands-on spaces within our gardens to provide participants the opportunity to experience the latest horticultural techniques.

A Garden for Learning and Growing

The Greener Skills Garden will host a variety of New Shoots programmes, including Youth Volunteers, the Green Skills Programme, and tailored career taster sessions for schools. Beyond these programmes, the space will also serve as a practical hub for our Secondary Education team, Adult Learning courses, Community Outreach projects, and School of Horticulture students, offering opportunities for hands-on learning and skills assessments.
 

Sustainability at the Heart of Design

Aligned with our goal to become net positive for nature and people, the garden showcases sustainable gardening practices backed by cutting-edge research from our Science & Collections team. Our Planet-friendly Gardening tips will be shared with visitors, members, and learners, providing advice for environmentally conscious gardening.

The Greener Skills Garden is being designed to be as accessible and inclusive as possible within the garden setting, to help participants of all backgrounds and experience levels benefit from the space.

Learn more about our sustainability strategy here and how you can incorporate eco-friendly practices into your own gardening journey.


Dave Green

Meet the designer of the Greener Skills Garden and his vision behind the project

 

Read more

Frequently Asked Questions

How do people access it?
The Greener Skills Garden is located within our Orchard between Hilltop, the home of gardening science, and our community allotments. Visitors are welcome to come and explore and discover our Planet-friendly Gardening advice – the outer path will be open to visitors at all times, however, please be aware there will be times that the central garden is closed to allow us to safely deliver group sessions with educational or communities groups.
How can you use it?
Visitors can use the garden to learn about sustainable gardening techniques and science, and as a place for relaxation/enjoyment. New Shoots, Secondary Education, Adult Learning, Communities and School of Horticulture participants will use the garden for RHS staff-led practical horticultural learning or assessment. We encourage visitors to explore the whole garden when educational sessions are not in progress and find out what our learners have been undertaking.
Is it for everyone or only people on a course?
The garden is for everyone and the outer path, packed full of Planet-friendly Gardening advice, will be open to all visitors and members to always explore during normal garden opening hours. Practical sessions, whether that is New Shoots taster sessions, adult courses or secondary school visits etc. can be booked by contacting the relevant team. When educational sessions are not in progress, we invite all visitors to explore the entire garden.
How do you book to experience the garden and horticultural careers if you are a college?
Please check-out our free New Shoots bespoke taster sessions, led by one of our Horticultural Engagement Officers or contact New Shoots.
I’m not a learning provider – is there a way I can get involved in the garden?
If you are interested in horticultural careers check out our New Shoots pages to explore our programmes such as Youth Volunteering (14-21), open Taster Sessions or Green Skills Programme (16+).
How will the garden develop over time?
As the garden is a learning space that also aims to demonstrate our latest research into sustainable horticulture, it will evolve over time. The most sustainable way to garden often involves taking time to grow a garden and as we want to take as many opportunities as possible to provide our learners with practical experience, we will be gradually planting the permanent planting areas over the first few years after the garden opens. This means how the garden looks on day one will be very different to a year or five years’ time, but we believe this is both practical, sustainable, and exciting!

Images currently visuals provided by Dave Green

Got a question?

Get in touch with our dedicated team and they’ll help get you started:
 


Email: newshoots@rhs.org.uk

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The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.