Achievements: Why the RHS matters and what we achieved in 2024
Our vision is a world where gardening is a way of life for everyone – connecting even more people with plants, in order to grow happier, healthier lives and communities
Founded more than 220 years ago, the RHS is now a thriving, diverse community of professional and home gardeners, members, supporters, volunteers, visitors to RHS Gardens and Shows, students, scientists and more – all passionate about spreading the joy of gardening. As a charity, the money we raise from membership, events and donations is put to work in communities, research facilities, education and much more.
Our mission is to be there for everybody on their lifelong gardening adventures. Few other activities offer so many benefits to so many people and to our planet: from improving mental and physical health and bringing neighbours together, to supporting pollinators and finding solutions to climate change.
Children enjoy hands-on learning with soil during a school gardening workshop
To make the biggest impact, we need to start where it all begins: in childhood, where there’s the greatest capacity to make a difference for the future by unlocking the potential of the next generation of gardeners. Through our work with schools via the National Education Nature Park and Campaign for School Gardening, and through fun, engaging visits to the five RHS Gardens, we’re committed to giving more children the chance to flourish through access to nature and gardens.
Here for every gardener
Involvement in gardening takes many forms. The RHS is here for people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities, whether they have a garden or grow on a balcony, or in community spaces. Our Britain in Bloom and It’s your Neighbourhood community schemes bring people together to share gardening knowledge, skills and friendship. Our nationwide New Shoots initiative promotes horticultural careers to a more diverse range of people, provides work experience and taster sessions for those new to gardening.
A vibrant orange butterfly rests on blooming chive flowers
Committed to sustainability
To help tackle the climate and
Strategic priorities: Accomplishments in 2024
Take a look back at the key milestones and progress made toward our strategic goals in 2024:
- Priority 1: We open up gardening for anyone, anywhere
- Priority 2: We grow our story to share the joy of gardening
- Priority 3: We build horticulture for the future
- Priority 4: We deliver science solutions for people, gardens and nature
- Priority 5: We champion the essential role of gardening
- Priority 6: We unlock our potential
Hayley Monkton, RHS Director of Communications
In this Q&A, Hayley shares the story and inspiration behind the RHS Chelsea garden created by young designers.
Q: Why did the RHS let children design a garden at RHS Chelsea?
A: After the success of the Children’s Picnic at RHS Chelsea 2023, we asked children at Sullivan Primary School to design a garden for the 2024 show as the perfect way to celebrate and showcase the amazing opportunities gardening in school can offer. We wanted to highlight how this gardening project would cover so many areas of the curriculum – maths, arts and design, writing, PE and sciences – and provide some wonderful opportunities for the class involved. It generated an amazing amount of engagement from the public, resonating with so many people, and demonstrating why the breadth of RHS work in getting children to access nature and gardening in schools is so important. They also designed and created a fantastic garden.
Q: How did the children engage with the project?
A: The children were involved with so many aspects right from the beginning. They came up with the key elements of the design – a den and tree house, water, places for wildlife and growing food – but the wish-list crocodile didn’t make it in. They created artwork for the garden, grew plants, wrote letters to invite Royal guests to the garden, and came up with the garden’s name and the badge slogans, ‘King of the Compost’ and ‘Queen of the Bees’, which gave adults to access the garden. As well as the pupils who designed The RHS No Adults Allowed Garden, 64 children attended the Chelsea Picnic and became the first Junior Judges of the eight Show Gardens on Main Avenue – the first ever RHS Children’s Choice Award went to The Octavia Hill Garden by Blue Diamond with the National Trust designed by Ann-Marie Powell.
Helena Pettit, RHS Director of Commercial and Innovation
In this Q&A, Helena highlights the launch of the RHS Urban Show, its unique features, and upcoming changes to the RHS shows programme.
Q: Why did we hold an RHS Urban Show?
A: The RHS wants to engage with more people who live in an urban environment, have small spaces or are indoor gardeners. By being innovative with our shows, we want to inspire new generations, giving them an opportunity to experience what horticulture is all about and get them excited about it, while allowing our existing members to see us in a new location. We’ll be building on the successful first RHS Urban Show at Depot Mayfield in Manchester with another one to be announced soon.
Q: How did this event differ from other RHS Shows?
A: The RHS Urban Show attracted a younger demographic and also people with the lowest incomes, which are two groups of people that we really want to engage with and give access to horticulture. It was held in a smaller space with easy public transport links, which fits with our environmental and sustainability priorities.
Q: Why are some of our shows going on tour next year?
Hannah Houlding, Horticulturist, RHS Rosemoor, Devon
In this Q&A, Hannah tells us more about her journey into horticulture, toucing on her experience on a Professional Work Placement.
Q: What was your journey into horticulture like?
A: Horticulture was not a field I’d have predicted I’d be working in 10 years ago when I graduated with a Biomedical Science degree. I followed the expected well-trodden path of a graduate salary role, but there was no sense of passion or joy. Following a sudden bereavement I was faced with challenges, and was reminded that happiness should be the marker of success in life. I decided to fill my days with what I loved and what gave me purpose – and that was gardening.
Q: How did the training experience at RHS Garden Rosemoor help you?
The experience enriched my knowledge across the field, building a solid platform that would equip me with transferable skills for a future in the world of horticulture.
Q: Can you tell us more about your current role as Horticulturist at RHS Rosemoor?
A: I work as part of the team caring for Lady Anne’s original side of the garden. Being outside, facing all the elements that the Devonshire weather throws at us, getting stuck-in and contributing to the garden’s upkeep, gives me a sense of purpose personally, but I also feel that my job benefits the wider natural ecosystem. I’ve been given responsibility for the Mediterranean Garden and I look forward to growing as a gardener over time alongside it. What I love most about my job at RHS Rosemoor is that I get to work together with such a knowledgeable, supportive and encouraging curatorial team.
James Lawrence, RHS Principal Horticultural Advisor
In this Q&A, James introduces the RHS Sustainable Planting tool and explains its science-based benefits for gardeners and the environment.
Q: What is the science behind the sustainable planting plans?
The ways in which plants react and manage conditions such as drought, shade, wind and soil type are examples of science in action and inform good plant choices. Many of the plants have shown natural adaptations to cope with specific conditions, such as waxy leaf surfaces to reduce moisture loss in dry or windy weather.
Q: What do they offer gardeners?
A: Using the ethos of ‘right plant, right place’ to create a sustainable planting combination is great for the environment. It helps gardeners avoid waste, and once the plants are established it reduces the need for resources such as water and fertilisers. It also creates robust, long-lived planting schemes that benefit soil health and garden biodiversity.
Q: Why will using them make a difference?
A: The pre-made planting plans bring together clever design and plant associations to help promote health and wellbeing for people, provide food and shelter for wildlife, and support pollinators.
Alistar Griffiths, RHS Director of Science and Collections
In this Q&A, Alistair explores two new reports on the economic and environmental impact of horticulture, launched by the RHS to support and promote the sector’s value in the UK.
Q: Why are these reports needed?
A: We need to recognise the value of environmental horticulture, as well as our own worth as a charity, so we can celebrate the work we do. The government has acknowledged the opportunity our industry can provide for economic growth while also delivering key environmental, health and wellbeing goals.
Q: What can we learn from them about the economic and environmental impact of horticulture?
Q: How will the RHS use this information?
A: We’re working alongside Defra and the government, the British Association Landscape Industries, the Horticultural Trades Association, and the Arboriculture Association (collectively called the Environmental Horticulture Group or EHG) to put all this data and information into practice and into our polices for the future. Much of what the RHS does has been highlighted by the report, such as in our Sustainability plan and our Plant Health Policy, and now we can take positive steps forward.
James Wren, RHS Director of Development and Corporate Partnerships
In this Q&A, James covers the first inaugural fundraising gala, why fundraising is essential, and how the event supported the charity’s work.
Q: Why does the RHS need to fundraise?
Q: What did the gala involve and how much did it raise for RHS work?
A: We created the Secret Garden Gala as a way to bring supporters together and for them to introduce their own guests to the work of the RHS. The beautiful Grade II-listed RHS Lindley Hall in London was transformed into a horticultural marvel, to celebrate the important role that gardens and gardening have in our lives. The evening started with a champagne reception kindly supported by Champagne Pommery, as guests were immersed in a secret garden created by world-renowned florists.
Comedian Bill Bailey led the evening with RHS experts, and shared stories from people who have benefited from the vital work of the RHS. A live auction took place with prizes donated to the RHS, including the chance to name a new rose, and people made donations to fund our work with apprentices. Thanks to the generosity of our sponsor Addleshaw Goddard and our guests, the evening raised an impressive £200,000 for the RHS and we are planning for the event to make a return in 2026.
