Our partners

Our partnership with Essex & Suffolk Water

RHS Garden Hyde Hall and Essex & Suffolk Water (ESW) have enjoyed a long relationship. We are grateful for their support over the years that has enabled us to undertake projects that enhance the garden, educate our visitors about the wise use of water in the garden and take a positive step towards the conservation of a precious resource.

Highlights from the partnership include:

1999

• With help from ESW we were able to construct a reservoir. The reservoir collects rainfall and irrigation runoff from the garden, maximising the ability to store this valuable natural resource.
• ESW provides sponsorship for a full-time education officer to work with children and schools.
• Support was also given by ESW for construction of the Farmhouse Garden. 

2000

• Work began on the Dry Garden, sponsored by ESW. This was a major project involving ambitious and contemporary design concepts using plants that are drought and exposure tolerant. 

2005

• Purchase and installation of an automated weather station courtesy of ESW. Weather has an important effect on day to day horticultural practices. The station gives us an accurate system of recording data and any patterns that demonstrate climate change. 

2007

• The RHS embarked upon a project to encourage people to grow their own vegetables and at Hyde Hall we were able to construct a vegetable plot, supported by ESW. Innovative plots show different methods of cultivation and cropping to create locally produced food without excessive use of water. Good news for our planet!