Achievements: Why the RHS matters and what we achieved in 2025

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 the UK’s gardening charity, the money we raise helps fund communities, research into more sustainable gardening, 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 offering vital habitats for wildlife.

Committed to sustainability

Supporting growers to go peat-free, with trials, advice and advocacy to help end peat use

Our RHS Gardens not only demonstrate horticultural excellence but also implement wildlife-friendly gardening techniques. Our Bringing Nature Home campaign inspires gardeners to adopt these practices to create valuable wildlife habitat and protect biodiversity.

Through evidence-based research and advice, we’re helping gardeners and the industry transition to peat-free. Protecting our precious peat boglands, the largest natural land-based carbon store in the country, is vital. All five RHS Gardens are 100% peat-free and, from January 2026, all RHS Garden Centres and RHS Plants online will sell only ‘no new peat’ plants.

Our scientific research into cultivated plants that cope with rainfall and drought extremes continues.

Here for every gardener

Encouraging young people to enjoy nature, building confidence and a love outdoors

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 RHS Grow app helps users identify plants, receive expert care advice and manage their gardens. Our Britain in Bloom and It’s your Neighbourhood community schemes bring people together to garden. Our nationwide New Shoots initiative promotes horticultural careers and sustainable gardening skills to a diverse range of people. We’re committed to helping more children flourish through access to nature and gardens by working with schools via the National Education Nature Park and Campaign for School Gardening, and fun, engaging visits to RHS Gardens.

We believe that the opportunity to garden is fundamental to every life and every society.

Strategic priorities: Accomplishments in 2025

Take a look back at the key milestones and progress made toward our strategic goals in 2025:

Sarah Poll, Head of Shows Development

Taking the RHS show to a new northern location brought gardening to new audiences, celebrating local talent while maintaining the organisation’s high standards.

Why did the RHS decide to hold a show in this location?

By rotating the RHS Flower Show Tatton Park and RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival to new locations, we can bring our world-class shows to regions and inspiring venues in parts of the country where we’ve never held a show before. Wentworth Woodhouse offered an incredible setting in the north of England to partner with and inspire visitors with different and exciting horticultural content – pushing boundaries while keeping sustainability front and centre.

Did it differ from other RHS Shows?

One of the key differences was the variety of local exhibitors, including new nurseries, local designers, local florists and small businesses taking part in an RHS Show for the first time. We had innovative content such as the RHS Teenage Dirt Park, a bold community space designed with Rotherham’s young people and created for the Children’s Capital of Culture. Local teens on BMX bikes tested it out. The RHS Miner’s Garden brought to life local history, reflecting on a time when miners gardened to feed their families and spend time in the fresh air. We held a botanical art exhibition and a fruit and veg competition within the magnificent house.

How was the show received?

The local community was hugely proud to have an RHS Show on their doorstop. Nearly 60,000 people visited the show, including a new audience of visitors who were keen to learn more about gardening and shop for plants. Around two-thirds of visitors came from Yorkshire, and the show’s northern location was a key reason for them visiting. It successfully blended regional appeal with RHS quality.

Clare Matterson, RHS Director General

The story behind the new Royal Signature for King Charles, celebrating his passion for gardening and the longstanding relationship between the RHS and the Royal Family.

Why was a new Royal Signature commissioned for King Charles?

The King has a lifelong passion for gardening and continues the enduring relationship between the Royal Family and the RHS, becoming its 15th Royal Patron in 2024. Royal signature paintings are exquisite botanical artworks created for each Royal Patron, a tradition dating back more than 200 years to 1816 when Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III, became the first royal patron of the RHS. Botanical artist Gillian Barlow’s new artwork for King Charles, featuring plants grown at Sandringham, was the centrepiece of an exhibition of royal signatures at the Sandringham Estate in 2025.

How did King Charles react to the new signature and the exhibition?

King Charles responded with genuine interest and warmth when presented with the new Royal Signature artwork. He spent considerable time studying the exhibition, particularly the pieces created for and signed by Queen Elizabeth, his mother. His curiosity extended to the botanical choices made by different royals, reflecting his deep appreciation for horticultural heritage. Observing these signatures seemed to evoke a sense of continuity and personal connection, as he explored how past monarchs expressed their love of gardens through art.

Is he looking forward to the new RHS Show at Sandringham in 2026?

King Charles III expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming RHS Show at Sandringham, welcoming the opportunity to showcase sustainable gardening practices, a subject close to his heart. In particular, he emphasised the importance of planting and nurturing trees that are resilient to future climate challenges and diseases – principles he sees as vital for long-term environmental stewardship. His excitement reflects a shared vision with the RHS: creating gardens that are not only beautiful but also environmentally responsible.

Dave Green, designer and former RHS Diploma student

How the RHS Garden Wisley Greener Skills Garden is helping people discover horticulture through hands-on experience in a welcoming, sustainable space.

Why is a garden like this so important?

There’s a need for welcoming, high-quality spaces where people with little or no experience of gardening can just try it out and explore whether a career in horticulture might be right for them. This garden provides a safe, supportive environment to dig, plant, take

A method of growing new plants from parts of an existing plant, such as sections of root, stem, leaf or bud. When prepared correctly and planted in the right conditions, they can produce roots and eventually become independent plants. There is a wide range of different methods for taking cuttings, depending on the plant and time of year.

How is sustainability at the heart of this garden?

Sustainability underpins every

In gardening, ‘aspect’ refers to the direction in which a garden or plant is facing. This can affect the amount of sunlight and shade that plants receive, as well as the temperature and wind exposure. South- and west-facing aspects are usually warm and sunny, while east- and north-facing aspects are colder and shadier.

Can visitors to RHS Wisley also enjoy the garden?

Yes, absolutely. Visitors can explore an outer, U-shaped path, with inner spaces opening up when activities are not taking place. When the space is accessible, visitors are able to step inside and experience a working garden. The space is full of practical, affordable ideas for home gardeners, from container ponds to raised planters made using recycled everyday materials, to inspire everyone with ideas to take home.

What aspect of the completed garden are you most pleased about?

Meeting the young people involved in the New Shoots programme has been a real highlight. Seeing their enthusiasm and confidence grow as they gained hands-on experience for the first time has been incredibly rewarding. It’s always special when a space genuinely inspires its users, especially because one of the main aims of the garden is to connect with and encourage new participants to adopt a career within the horticulture industry.

Andy Salisbury, RHS Head of Plant Health

The updated RHS Plants for Pollinators list shows how new research is strengthening its value for gardeners and biodiversity.

Why was there a need for this research?

The RHS Plants for Pollinators list is one of the largest and most widely cited and respected lists of cultivated plants benefiting pollinators. To address criticism that it could be based on personal observation, opinion and uncritical recycling of other lists, we developed a practical method that uses robust criteria for plants to be included.

What did the research involve?

We reviewed all plants on the list at the end of 2018 against evidence-based criteria that demonstrate value for pollinators. In all, 354 plants or plant groups were assessed using a flow chart decision tree, which ensured that every plant met this strict new set of criteria. The results were further evaluated by an expert working group and the research was peer-reviewed and published in the journal BioScience.

What key changes are in the new list?

For some plants, enough evidence was found to expand their representation on the list to include the whole genus and the updated list now incorporates more than 10,000 evidence-based plant choices to benefit all kinds of pollinators, from butterflies and bees to moths and hoverflies. From the original list, 4% of plants lacked robust evidence and have been removed, and 5% require further research.

How will this help gardeners and the horticulture industry?

The updated list ensures these recommendations are more robust than ever, giving gardeners extra confidence in the plants they choose. The RHS Plants for Pollinators logo can be used by growers on labels for any plant on the list, which will help drive sales. This has the additional benefit that plants in gardens will support more pollinators, further adding to the value of UK gardens for biodiversity.

George Hudson, Senior Policy and Public Affairs Manager

Outlining the thinking behind the latest RHS reports, the value of gardening and how the findings will shape future policy and action.

Why were these reports needed

Gardening touches the lives of millions of people, but its full social, economic and environmental value has been under-recognised. The RHS State of Gardening Report sets a national baseline to track change and inform action across the UK. RHS Space to Grow was the first in-depth survey of the scale, impact and needs of community gardening groups. Both reports align with the RHS Strategy to 2030, grounding advocacy and our programmes in robust data and evidence.

What are some of the key findings?

A: Gardens cover almost 1 million hectares and store an estimated 158 million tonnes of carbon, underscoring their value in climate change mitigation. They support more than 50 million trees and host over half the UK’s butterfly, amphibian and reptile species and 77% of gardeners report positive mental health effects after gardening. The Space to Grow report reveals that 2.5 million adults have recently taken part in community gardening and 14.7 million want to get involved but many groups face insecure funding and land access.

How will the reports be used?

They provide an evidence base to embed gardens and gardening across health, education, housing, climate and

The variety of living organisms (plants, animals, fungi and microorganisms) in a particular environment. Boosting the biodiversity of your garden has many benefits, including supporting wildlife, improving soil health and reducing the likelihood of pest and disease problems.

Ingrid Fernandes, Director of Finance and Corporate Services

Sharing early insights and experiences at the RHS and how its financial future is being shaped to support long-term impact.

What experience and skills do you bring to the RHS?

I have extensive experience in managing complex, multi-faceted organisations, including visitor attractions, retail operations and heritage estates, spanning financial leadership and corporate services. Having worked across diverse business models, I understand how to balance commercial growth with mission-driven objectives to build a sustainable financial foundation that underpins our charitable goals and long-term impact.

What have you learnt in your first year with the RHS?

My first few months at the RHS revealed its extraordinary breadth and dynamism – a world where horticulture intersects with education, innovation and cultural impact. It’s a leading horticultural charity underpinned by multiple income streams – from visitor attractions, retail and fundraising to science and education, alongside the world-class RHS Flower Shows. As well as deepening my understanding of how each element contributes to our wider strategy, it also inspired me to see the RHS as a catalyst for change: a place where creativity and collaboration can shape a sustainable future.

In these difficult economic conditions, how might the RHS unlock its potential?

My priority is to build a financial foundation that safeguards our charitable mission while allowing future generations of horticulturists to thrive. This means strengthening financial planning across all areas, driving efficiencies and optimising income streams to ensure stability. By fostering innovation and embedding sustainability, we can secure a future where the RHS continues to inspire, educate and lead.