Gifts and Bequests

Gifts and bequests of books for the Science Library and Garden Libraries

Wisley and the Garden Libraries welcome gifts of books and periodicals on plants, gardening and related subjects. Some of our most valued books have come from generous gifts or bequests.

The Science Library and Garden Libraries are widely used and the library is very grateful for any donations.

Books required

Our ideal books are modern or standard works on all garden-related subjects. We would prefer them to be in good condition.

We welcome modern or standard works on such subjects as:
Allotments, alpine gardening, bee-keeping, birds, biographies (gardeners, landscape designers etc), birds, bulbs, compost making, disabled gardening, family gardens, floristry, flower arranging, foliage plants, folklore, fruit, garden design, garden DIY, garden history, gardening on clay, peat, sand etc, grasses, hedges, houseplants, general gardening and gardening in other countries, kitchen gardening, lawns, medicinal plants, organic gardening, photography, rock gardening, roof gardens, seaside gardening, spices, tools, topiary, tropical plants, vegetables, water gardening, weeds, wild flowers/floras, wildlife gardens.

Books on a single cultivated plant. These are the books we want most specifically. We welcome all books on a single cultivated plant, of whatever age and condition. We are trying to build up an excellent and comprehensive collection for use by our botanists in the Science Library (this library is also open to the public by appointment) duplicate copies of books (if in good condition) will be placed in the Garden Libraries for use by visitors.

Periodicals required

Specific plant society journals. We are also very happy to promote specialist plant societies in all the Garden Libraries - so welcome promotional literature for this group. Our Garden Libraries each get several thousand customers per year, many of whom are likely to be interested in joining specialist groups.

Gardeners' Chronicle 1869-1874 (inclusive). This would make our set complete.

Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society before 1920. We currently do not require any recent issues, due to lack of space. If possible, we would like complete sets in each of RHS Libraries.

Transactions of the RHS

We also welcome any other gardening books and journals. Any gardening books or journals, which are not required in any of our libraries, because of duplication etc, are likely to be sold and the proceeds used to buy other books.

Donations from the past few years have included: a superb bequest of over 1,000 books by Graham Stuart Thomas, which is now housed in the Wisley Garden Library; a bequest of a comprehensive collection of much sought-after heather books from David McClintock (which have all been added to the Science Library); and a donation from Bill Nelmes (an ex-student and staff member) of an excellent selection books and journals (which have been distributed in the Garden Libraries).

Contact details:
The Librarian
Wisley Library
RHS Garden Wisley
Woking
Surrey GU23 6QB
Tel: 01483 212428
mailto:library.wisley@rhs.org.uk