Press releases

An exotic world warms up for visitors

June 13 2007

A kaleidoscope of entertainment and sounds of a steel band will bring a suitably tropical touch to celebrations to welcome the first visitors to the spectacular new Glasshouse at RHS Garden Wisley in Surrey when it opens to the public on Friday 15 June.

A truly exotic experience awaits visitors inside The Glasshouse, the result of the Royal Horticultural Society’s biggest ever fundraising appeal. From palm trees to leafy jungle, The Glasshouse takes you on a journey through dramatic landscapes where familiar household plants are combined with rare and unusual species in spectacular garden settings.

The first 100 people to visit The Glasshouse on Friday 15 June will receive special Glasshouse presentation bags full of inspiration for growing plants. The first visitor will be invited to open the doors to the public for the first time, alongside the RHS team.

The Glasshouse will be officially opened on 26 June with a visit from the Patron of the RHS, Her Majesty The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.

Jill Cherry, RHS Director of Gardens and Estates comments, “The opening festivities mark a wonderful addition to Wisley that celebrates a milestone in the 200-year history of the RHS. The amazing Glasshouse structure offers visitors a chance to experience exotic, unusual and well-loved garden plants through a world-class display of colour, scent and texture. The Glasshouse tells the story of the plants that we love in our gardens and homes to inspire gardeners of all ages and abilities. With plant displays changing almost every month it is another perfect reason to make The Glasshouse at RHS Garden Wisley a regular destination.

Admission to The Glasshouse is included with admission to the garden.

For more information visit www.rhs.org.uk/theglasshouse

Notes to Editors

Images are available to download at www.picselect.com

For further information and alternative photos, please contact the RHS Press Office:
Judy Claughton, Tel: 0207 821 3692 or email judyclaughton@rhs.org.uk
Cat Steventon, Tel: 020 7 821 3046 or email catsteventon@rhs.org.uk

Or the team at RHS Garden Wisley, contact:
Anna Tomkins or Sue Thompson at RHS Garden Wisley on 01483 212306 or email annatomkins@rhs.org.uk

RHS Garden Wisley is located just off the A3, junction 10 of M25. Follow the brown tourist attraction flower symbol signs to the Garden. At peak times demand will be high, to avoid delays, the RHS recommends traveling by public transport. See www.rhs.org.uk/wisley and click on ‘how to reach the garden’ or call 0845 260 9000.

Admission to the garden is free to RHS members, is £7.50 for adults and £2 for children from six to 16 years of age. Entry is free for those under six.

RHS Garden Wisley is open daily except Christmas Day. Opening times 1 March to 31 October Monday to Friday from 10am – 6 pm, Saturday and Sunday from 9am – 6pm (4.30pm Nov – Feb). Last entry is one hour before garden closing time.

Forthcoming seasonal displays at The Glasshouse to inspire gardeners

July 2007 – Fuchsias
August 2007 – the fabulous vibrant velvet-look ferns Solenostemon (Coleus)
October 2007 - Nerine sarniensis
November 07 - ‘Autumn Fireworks’ featuring cascade chrysanthemums
December 07 - Brilliant colour of the Christmas plant display plus family activities
January- February 2008 - ‘Winter Exotics’ and the RHS orchid collection.

The Glasshouse showcases over 5,000 different types of the world’s most beautiful plants in this exotic garden under glass, providing true inspiration for home growing. Gardeners of all ages and experience will find inspiration for windowsills and conservatories throughout the year.

For more information on the glasshouse please visit www.rhs.org.uk/theglasshouse

www.rhs.org.uk/pressoffice

The RHS is the UK’s leading gardening charity dedicated to advancing horticulture and promoting good gardening. RHS work includes providing expert advice and information, advancing horticulture, training the next generation of gardeners, helping school children learn about plants, and conducting research into plants, pests and environmental issues affecting gardeners.

An interest in gardening is all you need to enjoy being a member of the RHS. For more information visit www.rhs.org.uk or call 0845 130 4646.

Founded in 1804, the Royal Horticultural Society is Britain's largest gardening charity and is committed to being the leading organisation demonstrating excellence in horticulture and promoting gardening. Renowned for its outstanding gardens and inspirational flower shows, the RHS is a key source of advice and information for all gardeners. It encourages gardening through its publications, trials, lectures, education programmes and scientific research and is home to the Lindley Library, which contains the most comprehensive collection of horticultural books in the world.

Membership of the Royal Horticultural Society offers many exclusive benefits including a monthly copy of The Garden magazine; free entrance to RHS Gardens Wisley in Surrey, Rosemoor in Devon, Hyde Hall in Essex and Harlow Carr in North Yorkshire; free access to a further 88 beautiful gardens across Britain and 20 gardens in Belgium and France; access to seeds collected at RHS gardens; free gardening advice and privileged tickets to 18 RHS flower shows, including the Chelsea Flower Show, the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show and the RHS Flower Show at Tatton Park.

For further enquiries about membership of the RHS contact: Membership Department, Royal Horticultural Society, PO Box 313, London SW1P 2PE; 0845 130 4646 Monday - Friday 9.30am - 5pm or via the RHS website

For more information e-mail the Press Office or visit the online Press Office