Royal Horticultural Society facts for kids
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| Abbreviation | RHS |
|---|---|
| Formation | 7 March 1804 (as Horticultural Society of London) |
| Type | Registered charity |
| Purpose | Promote gardening and horticulture |
| Headquarters | London, SW1 |
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Region served
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United Kingdom |
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Membership
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414,699 (2013) |
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President
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Keith Weed |
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Budget
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2013/14 income: £71.94m |
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is the UK's top charity for gardening. It was started in 1804 as the Horticultural Society of London. The RHS helps people learn about and enjoy gardening and growing plants.
The RHS promotes gardening through its five amazing gardens. These are located at Wisley (Surrey), Hyde Hall (Essex), Harlow Carr (North Yorkshire), Rosemoor (Devon), and Bridgewater (Greater Manchester). The society also hosts famous flower shows like the Chelsea Flower Show. They also run community gardening projects and educational programs. The RHS helps train both professional and amateur gardeners. As of 2023, Keith Weed was the president.
Contents
History of the RHS
How the RHS Started
The idea for a British gardening society came from John Wedgwood in 1800. He was the son of the famous Josiah Wedgwood. John wanted to create a place where gardeners could meet regularly. They would share their discoveries and talk about new ideas. He also hoped the society would give out awards for great gardening achievements.
John Wedgwood talked about his idea with friends. Four years later, on March 7, 1804, the first meeting happened. Seven men met at Hatchards bookshop in London. John Wedgwood was the chairman. Other important people there included Sir Joseph Banks, who was the President of the Royal Society. Also present were William Townsend Aiton from Kew Gardens and James Dickson, a nurseryman.
Early Leaders and Goals
Sir Joseph Banks suggested his friend Thomas Andrew Knight join the group. Knight became the society's president from 1811 to 1838. He helped the society grow and focus on practical research. This research included finding new ways to breed fruit plants.
Becoming a Member
Joining the RHS means you become part of a large community of gardeners. In 2009, over 363,000 people were members. By 2019, this number grew to more than 525,000. Today, you become a member by making a financial contribution.
Members and Fellows of the Royal Horticultural Society can use special letters after their names. These are MRHS for Members and FRHS for Fellows.
| Financial year | Number of members |
|---|---|
| 2013/14 | 414,699 |
| 2014/15 | 428,472 |
| 2015/16 | 448,977 |
| 2016/17 | 472,157 |
| 2017/18 | 490,205 |
| 2018/19 | 502,666 |
| 2019/20 | 525,105 |
RHS Gardens
The Royal Horticultural Society has five main gardens in England. These gardens are beautiful places where people can see many different plants. They are also used for research and education.
- Wisley Garden is in Surrey.
- Rosemoor Garden is in Devon.
- Hyde Hall is in Essex.
- Harlow Carr is in Harrogate, North Yorkshire.
- RHS Garden, Bridgewater is in Worsley, Greater Manchester.
History of RHS Gardens
The society's first garden was in Kensington from 1818 to 1822. Later, they used land at Chiswick starting in 1821. Here, they held fun events and flower shows. In 1861, the RHS opened a new garden in South Kensington. This garden closed in 1882. The Chiswick garden stayed open until 1903.
RHS Garden Wisley is the oldest garden the society still owns. It was given to the RHS by Sir Thomas Hanbury. Rosemoor Garden was given by Lady Anne Berry in 1988. Hyde Hall was a gift from Dick and Helen Robinson in 1993. Harlow Carr joined the RHS in 2001 when the Northern Horticultural Society merged with the RHS. In 2013, over 1.6 million people visited the four gardens.
In 2015, the RHS announced plans for a fifth garden. This garden, RHS Garden Bridgewater, opened in May 2021.
RHS Flower Shows
The RHS is famous for its yearly flower shows across the UK. These shows are big events where people can see amazing plant displays. They also learn about new gardening trends.
The most famous show is the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. People from all over the world visit this show. Other popular shows include the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show and the RHS Tatton Park Flower Show in Cheshire. The RHS took over the Hampton Court show in 1993 and the Tatton Park show in 1999.
The RHS Show Cardiff started in 2005 at Cardiff Castle. The society also works closely with other shows. These include the spring and autumn shows at Malvern and BBC Gardeners' World Live in Birmingham.
RHS Libraries
The RHS looks after the Lindley Library. This library is at their main office in London. It also has branches at each of the five RHS gardens. The library started with the book collection of John Lindley.
The RHS also has a large image library. It contains over 3,300 original paintings of plants. There are also thousands of photos. Many of these images come from photographers hired by the RHS.
The libraries in the gardens are open to everyone. RHS members can borrow books from the Lindley London library. They can also borrow from the libraries at Wisley Garden and Harlow Carr Garden.
Britain in Bloom
In 2002, the RHS took over the "Britain in Bloom" competition. This competition encourages communities to make their areas beautiful with plants. In 2010, the society started a campaign called 'It's your neighbourhood'. This campaign helps people get involved in gardening for their local community. In 2014, "Britain in Bloom" celebrated its 50th anniversary.
Education and Training
The RHS offers courses for people who want to become professional gardeners. They also have courses for amateur gardeners. The RHS also approves qualifications from other places, like Kew Botanic Gardens.
RHS Qualifications
- RHS Level 1 Award in Practical Horticulture: This course teaches basic gardening skills. It's for anyone interested in plants and gardening.
- RHS Level 2 Qualifications: These courses are a good start for a career in horticulture. They can also help people already working in gardening. There are separate courses for theory and practical skills.
- RHS Level 3 Qualifications: These courses let you focus on specific areas of gardening. They can help you get a job or advance your career.
- Master of Horticulture (RHS) Award: This is the highest qualification from the RHS. It's like a degree for gardening professionals. You can study for it over three years or more.
School Gardening
The RHS also runs the "RHS Campaign for School Gardening". This program gives ideas, resources, and advice to schools. It helps teachers and volunteers support students in the UK. Kids get to grow plants and food. This helps them learn important life skills.
Medals and Awards
Awards for People
The RHS gives special awards to people who have done great things in gardening.
- Victoria Medal of Honour: Started in 1897, only 63 people can hold this medal at one time. This number represents each year of Queen Victoria's reign.
- Elizabeth Medal of Honour: Started in 2023, only 70 people can hold this medal at one time. This number represents each year of Queen Elizabeth II's reign.
- Associate of Honour: Started in 1930, there can be up to 100 holders at any time.
- Harlow Carr Medal: For important contributions to gardening in northern England.
- Reginald Cory Memorial Cup: For introducing new hybrid plants.
- Community Award: For long-term help with community gardening.
- Roy Lancaster Award: For outstanding work by people under 35 years old.
The Veitch Memorial Medal is given each year to people from any country. It honors those who have greatly improved the science and practice of horticulture. The RHS also gives Gold, Silver-gilt, Silver, and Bronze medals to exhibitors at its Flower Shows.
Awards for Plants
The Award of Garden Merit (AGM) is the main award for garden plants. The RHS gives this award after testing plants. They check how well the plants grow and perform.
Older gardening books might mention other awards for plants. These include the Preliminary Certificate (PC), Highly Commended (HC), Award of Merit (AM), and First Class Certificate (FCC).
Presidents of the RHS
Horticultural Society of London (1804–1861)
- 1811–1838 : Thomas Andrew Knight (First President)
- 1838–1858 : William Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire
- 1858–1861 : Albert, Prince Consort
Royal Horticultural Society (1861-Present)
- 1862–1883 : Duke of Buccleuch
- 1884–1885 : Sir Benjamin Thomas Brandreth-Gibbs
- 1885–1913 : Sir Trevor Lawrence
- 1913–1919 : Francis Grenfell, 1st Baron Grenfell
- 1919–1928 : Amelius Lockwood, 1st Baron Lambourne
- 1928–1931 : Gerald Loder, 1st Baron Wakehurst
- 1931–1953 : Henry McLaren, 2nd Baron Aberconway
- 1953–1961 : Sir David Bowes-Lyon
- 1961–1984 : Charles McLaren, 3rd Baron Aberconway
- 1984–1994 : Robin A.E. Herbert
- 1994–2001 : Sir Simon Hornby
- 2001–2006 : Sir Richard Carew-Pole, Bt
- 2006–2008 : Peter N. Buckley
- 2009–2010 : Giles Coode-Adams
- 2010–2013 : Elizabeth Banks
- 2013–2020 : Sir Nicholas Bacon, Bt
- 2020–present : Keith Weed
See also
In Spanish: Real Sociedad de Horticultura para niños
- Arlow Stout, a person who helped create new types of daylilies. He was an honorary life fellow of RHS.
- Lindley Hall, an exhibition hall owned by the RHS in London.
- Robert Allen Rolfe, who started the magazine The Orchid Review.
