The Royal Horticultural Society
Our mission
To be the leading organisation demonstrating excellence in horticulture and promoting gardening.
Our belief
Horticulture and gardening enrich people's lives. As a charity and learned society, we are committed to bringing the personal and social benefits of growing plants to a diverse audience of all ages, to enhance understanding and appreciation of cultivated plants, and to provide contact with the natural world. The Society believes that excellence in horticulture and gardening in both private and public spaces is a vital component of healthy sustainable communities and the creation of long-term environmental improvements.
RHS membership
RHS members enjoy exclusive benefits including a monthly copy of The Garden magazine; free entry with a guest to RHS gardens; free access to a huge number of beautiful gardens in the UK and Europe; free gardening advice and privileged tickets to RHS flower shows.
RHS gardens
RHS Gardens Wisley in Surrey, Rosemoor in Devon, Hyde Hall in Essex and Harlow Carr in North Yorkshire provide year-round interest and inspiration and demonstrate the best gardening practices, new techniques and exciting new plants. Each garden has a full programme of events for all ages and levels of expertise.
RHS flower shows
The RHS stages world-class flower shows, including the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, the RHS Flower Show at Tatton Park, the RHS Spring Flower Show, Cardiff and the RHS London Flower Shows. The RHS also works in partnership with the Malvern Spring Gardening Show and BBC Gardeners' World Live.
Horticultural Advisory Service
The RHS offers advice on all aspects of gardening. Free one-to-one advice is a benefit of RHS membership. The RHS also gives advice via the media, on the RHS website and to the public at RHS shows.
Environmental awareness
The RHS is at the forefront of raising awareness of environmental issues and their relevance to UK gardeners. These issues include, among others, the increasing importance of gardens for biodiversity and the predicted effects of climate change on gardens over the next 80 years.
Scientific research
The RHS conducts research on gardening problems raised by members through the advisory service. Recent and ongoing projects include the identification of honey fungus and suitable methods of control, the spread of lily beetle and the potential threat of rosemary beetle.
Award of Garden Merit (AGM)
The RHS AGM scheme helps all gardeners choose garden-worthy plants. The award is a measure of excellence given after trials at RHS Gardens judged by RHS plant committees. The trophy symbol, representing the RHS AGM, is used widely on plant labels to help customers easily identify AGM plants.
Education
Education is central to the charitable purpose of the RHS. Formal and informal learning opportunities are provided through events, training, qualifications, bursaries and a schools' programme.
RHS publications
The RHS produces a wide range of publications including more than 200 books, as well as magazines and videos.
RHS libraries
The RHS Lindley Library is the world's foremost horticultural library. It is open to the public and houses more than 50,000 volumes on a wide range of subjects, and over 22,000 botanical drawings.
RHS Online
The RHS website offers information, advice and news for everyone with an interest in gardening. It runs RHS Plant Finder, RHS Garden Finder and RHS Event Finder search tools together with RHS Plant Selector, an online search tool providing photographs, descriptions, cultivation information and advice on thousands of plants.
Britain in Bloom
The biggest horticultural campaign in Europe encourages local people from villages, towns and cities in the UK, to come together and breathe new life into their communities through gardening, sustained horticulture and environmental care. By participating in Britain in Bloom, which is run by the RHS communities benefit from safer, cleaner and greener local environments, and increased civic pride.
Affiliated Societies
We actively support gardening clubs, societies and federations in the UK and across the world.
RHS partner gardens
There are more than 130 UK and 25 overseas independently owned gardens which offer free entry to RHS members, whether throughout their open period or at selected times of the year.
RHS volunteers
Volunteers provide invaluable help and support in maintaining RHS gardens, plant collections flower shows and library catalogues.
Plant centres, shops and mail order
Plant centres and shops can be found at each of the RHS gardens. The RHS Gift Collection is available by mail order and online.
RHS licensed products
RHS Enterprises works with market leaders and grants licences to produce products and services of the highest standard.
RHS Horticultural Halls, Westminster
These are available for hire for a wide range of events. All profits are used to support the horticultural and educational work of the RHS.
For more information from the RHS Press Office e-mail pressoffice@rhs.org.uk
Find out more
Contact the RHS Press Office
80 Vincent Square, London SW1P 2PE
E-mail: pressoffice@rhs.org.uk
Fax: 020 7233 9502
Tel: 0870 350 1769