The Royal Horticultural Society has secured £2.3 million in compensation from the government following prolonged roadworks that severely disrupted access to its flagship garden in Wisley. The charity claims the construction work, tied to upgrades on the A3 and M25, led to a three-year traffic bottleneck, slashing annual visitor numbers by hundreds of thousands and costing an estimated £13 million in lost revenue. A public campaign spearheaded by a well-known gardener and TV presenter pushed for financial restitution, highlighting the broader impact of major infrastructure projects on local businesses and cultural institutions. The head of the RHS now expresses optimism about future support, including potential backing from a prominent political figure.
Exclusive: Clare Matterson, the head of the Royal Horticultural Society, talks about the charity’s £2.3m roadworks compensation, community gardening and her high hopes for Andy BurnhamThe government has awarded £2.3m in compensation to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) after roadworks affecting its premier garden in Wisley caused a “three-year traffic jam”.The horticulture charity estimated it lost £13m due to disruption caused by the upgrade to the A3 and M25, with visits to the garden each year cut by 350,000. A campaign to reimburse the charity was led by the gardener and TV presenter Alan Titchmarsh. Continue reading...
