Gifted to the Society in 1903, only a small part of the original estate was cultivated as a garden, the remainder being wooded farmland. Over time, the face of Wisley has changed, so it is now world-class garden in its own right, but a closer look reveals the real value of Wisley.

In the trials fields, the finest flowers and vegetables are identified from the countless new introductions. Elsewhere in the garden, cultivation techniques, such as composting or pleaching, are tried and tested, and a series of model gardens answers the needs of a variety of conditions and circumstances.