My Garden

Carbon footprint of RHS gardens, shows and activities in general

Last post 20-01-2009 12:22 PM by greenjohn. 6 replies.

• 20/01/2009 11:10 AM

  greenjohn Location: North Wales Joined on: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 2

  Reply | Contact Reading the article ‘Future outlook’ in The Garden (November 2008, pp728-729) left me struggling to reconcile the phrase ‘Environmental responsibility: all sites will be managed and maintained with an emphasis on the responsible consumption of resources’, with five mentions of cars/car parks, plus an illustration of Hyde Hall’s new one. There is no mention of how visitors to Hyde Hall can make their journey more sustainably - and that means by not driving. I want to extend my ‘earth-friendly’ approach to gardening by visiting RHS gardens and shows in the least carbon-emitting way, so incurring the smallest ‘ecological footprint’ possible. With planning, determination, and an early start, I’ve enjoyed a day at Harlow Carr, using only public transport to travel from North Wales. But one bus a day (from Monday to Friday, May to September) linking Wisley with Woking rail station precludes a day visit for anyone except those in southern England - unless you forgo sleep the night before. Consulting the 2008 Members’ Handbook suggests that car-free visits to Hyde Hall or Rosemoor will require a gargantuan exercise of planning and execution. How does ‘responsible consumption of resources’ fit with a masterplan for the RHS gardens that maintains the status quo, making them, by and large, car-only destinations? This, in a world reluctantly accepting the impact of how we live on the planet’s climate, and with ‘peak oil’ on the radar, strikes me as inexplicable - and at loggerheads with the RHS’s strategic plan of ‘transforming it’s environmental credentials’. Vehicles are a major emitter of ‘greenhouse gases’ responsible for causing global warming and climate change. When it comes to measuring its carbon footprint, surely the RHS must count in the carbon being released by visitors to its gardens, and indeed to its shows? This should be easy enough for garden visitors - just ask for postcodes, or link electronically to members’ details. It then follows that ‘responsible consumption of resources’ lives beyond the sound bite and helps drive a reduction in the overall RHS footprint - by stimulating improved, convenient, car-free ways of getting visitors to its gardens and shows. I would wager that the biggest slice of the carbon footprint of any RHS garden or show belongs to its visitors. What plans are afoot to address this 'carbon elephant in the garden', and what strategic planning can I look forward to that will help me reduce my own?

• 20/01/2009 12:02 PM

  In reply to

  Figwort Location: Peterborough Joined on: 20 Dec 2007 Posts: 258

  Reply | Contact Wow, there's a subject and a half! As far as I'm aware lots or organisations are looking into this - and I'm not sure anyone has yet come up with a fool-proof answer. I'd certainly be interested in hearing the reply. Having read the responses to the post on the fifth garden, and knowing where most of the best gardens in the UK are situated, I don't think there are many that can boast low/zero carbon footprints. Or maybe someone else knows better. There are never any problems in gardening - just opportunities! Geoff Hodge www.gardenforum.demon.co.uk

• 20/01/2009 12:09 PM	In reply to
  VP Location: Chippenham Joined on: 14 Jan 2009 Posts: 32	Reply | Contact I know it's not the RHS, but the National Trust have a massive  project looking into this very area for their Parks and Gardens. VP http://vegplotting.blogspot.com

• 20/01/2009 12:14 PM	In reply to
  Jenny Woods Location: Peripatetic Joined on: 19 Jan 2009 Posts: 4	Reply | Contact I'd certainly second improving the Wisley bus service from Woking station. It's never packed when I use it, but it's one of those things where if it was more convenient, then usage should grow. Maybe occasional winter runs once a week?

• 20/01/2009 12:16 PM

  In reply to

  jill cherry Location: wisley Joined on: 06 Nov 2008 Posts: 4

  Reply | Contact Thanks to John for his post on our green credentials. Green travel is a huge challenge as Figwort responds. Harlow Carr is probably our most accessible garden through public transport, given it's near urban location and it is quite possible to walk from Harrogate Station through the Valley Gardens up to the garden. Given the rural locations of the other gardens it is a challenge however we are actively engaged with making improvements. There is a regular bus service to Wisley, that stops on the A3, just steps away from the garden. There is also a special bus that the RHS runs from Woking Station several times a day. At Rosemoor, it is possible to get close to the garden by hiking the Tarka Trail, although admittedly getting from Umberleigh Station would be a challenge without taking a taxi. A partial solution but better than driving ones own car all the way. Just as we are looking at everything we can do ourselves including car sharing initiatives in place for our staff we would equally encourage members and other visitors to car pool when visiting our gardens.    Jill Cherry, Director of Gardens and Estate

• 20/01/2009 12:18 PM	In reply to
  VP Location: Chippenham Joined on: 14 Jan 2009 Posts: 32	Reply | Contact Do you offer a financial incentive to visitors arriving in a greener fashion like they offer a reduced admission at the Eden Project? VP http://vegplotting.blogspot.com

• 20/01/2009 12:22 PM	In reply to
  greenjohn Location: North Wales Joined on: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 2	Reply | Contact Thanks Jill, but with respect you have not answered the questions I posed in my original post. Please can you do that. Thanks.