RHS Directors Online Forum

Hampton Court Flower Show - Members' Day

Arabella Sock — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 20:46:58 GMT

One of the main benefits of RHS membership for me is the fact that I can attend the various flower shows on members' day. Or at least this would be a benefit if it wasn't for the fact that the Hampton Court flower show is flooded out with Daily Mail readers and presumably other non-members who the RHS have allowed to attend on this day. In the case of Hampton Court last year it was unpleasantly overcrowded. How does the RHS justify this and what proportion of tickets are in fact sold or given away to non-members on members' day? Is the same true of Chelsea and the other shows members days?

Orchid flowers that look like insects

miranda — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 13:21:47 GMT

I'm not sure if this is the sort of question you're looking for but, I see that Dr Simon Thornton-Wood, the Director of Science & Learning, is going to be about so maybe he'll have something to say.

It's a question that's been on my mind for a while and it would be interesting to know an expert thinks:

Orchids are known for flowers that resemble insects and spiders (for example - the bee orchid, Ophrys apifera). Bee orchids can self-pollinate, so the plant doesn't really need to look like a bee. As far as I've read, the bee that the orchid has changed itself to resemble doesn't even visit the UK.

But, if resembling a pollinating insect was necessary in the past for the plant species to propagate and survive, then how come it didn't die out before those changes occurred? And, if it isn't necessary, then why did they do it in the first place? The question that vexes me the most is how an orchid can know what changes it needs to make in order to look like a bee. How can a plant know what a bee looks like?

Thanks!

Miranda

Garden Organic & the RHS

Geoff Hedge — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 18:03:45 GMT

Thanks and goodbye

Inga — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 12:26:49 GMT

Our time is almost up. We found it really useful to hear direct from you and hope you did too. The forum will remain live and we will respond to issues as they come up over the next few weeks. We hope to do this again. Tell us what you think.

With thanks from,

inga, jill, gordon,sarah,dan and simon

Membership benefits

pats — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 10:01:54 GMT

I have just spent some time filling in the Membership questionnaire and was a bit disappointed that there was no facility at the end to make suggestions; I would very much like the option of choosing between The Garden and The Plantsman. has anyone thoughtof this - is its at all possible?

Demographics

Elspeth — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 09:40:10 GMT

Hi, Thanks for creating the opportunity for us to access you guys online. Great initiative. Can you tell me the demographic of the RHS membership? Is this changing to include a younger audience? If yes are you doing anything specifically to embrace the younger audience and would you consider a rebrand. Thanks! Kind regards Elspeth Briscoe

The Fifth Garden

Digger — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 17:43:15 GMT

Hello RHS directors, Just before the election of RHS officials the idea of a fifth garden was put forward, Have you decided where the new fifth garden is going to be yet? We only have Harlow Carr up here in the North, but it is on the Eastern side of the Peninnes, here in Lancashire on the Westsern side of the peninnes we have much harsher weather conditions than you do at Harrogate and we have higher rainfall, it wpould be ideal for the fifth garden to be here in Lancashire, we have an excellent motorway network all ready laid out, we have a very high population here as well, so the garden would get lots of visitors and lots of volunteers to help out at the new garden, also we have a lot of empty land going spare and common agricultural land can be bought relatively cheaply, how many acres of land do you think we will need for an ideal garden? if we get some empty land it will be the ideal opportunity for the RHS to build a purpose built visitor and research garden, it would be ideal for the schools to learn about gardening as well. It would be realistic and be a true representation of actual conditions, we here a lot about dry gardening and gardening in a drought etc.. but the fact of the matter is that in Lancashire we get up to eight feet of rain water in a year almost twice the amount you get at Harlow Carr, we get really wet weather all year round and as a consequence the dry gardening and drought tolerant plants etc.. are meaningless to people in Lancashire, I hope and pray for a dry garden but it's not going to happen, if you build the new garden in Lancashire you will get the gist of what the weather is like and your trials will have meaning for people who live on the North Western side of the Peninnes,

I can find some property for sale quite easily and cheaply as prices have now dropped, we could with some thoughtful planning have our very own Wisley up here in Lancashire, If you come up to Lancashire I will be more than happy to show you some good places available to develop a garden and laboratory and research centre, this is the ideal chance for the RHS to develop Lancashire as the hub of northern horticulture. We could probably get some lottery money to put towards the cost as well also we could have a bio sphere like the one in Wales, and the garden could be used as a teaching resource, lots of schools need to learn how to make compost and things, of course we will need lots of volunteers to help out, but due to the high population in nearby towns and cities we will have lots of free help.

Thankyou for your time.

Broader, but shallower?

Jenny Woods — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 22:02:33 GMT

I welcome the RHS's intent to widen knowledge of horticulture and design by reaching out beyond its traditional boundaries. Yet I fear that in so doing the depth of knowledge embodied by the Society is being lost. This can already be seen in the changes in The Garden magazine - the subject matter is treated in less depth and the loss of the Index means the magazine is no longer a resource to be filed and treasured, but skimmed and binned with all the other glossies.

Yes, catch all the enthusiastic beginners, but can you not give something more challenging to those of us who have thought, learned, built and gardened for several years!?

Gift Aid

VP — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 10:11:15 GMT

Other charities like the National Trust and The Royal Photographic Society have the ability for members and visitors to Gift Aid their subscriptions and entrance fees. It would appear the RHS is missing a good additional income which would be especially welcome.

What plans does the RHS have in this area?

Sex and Death

Arabella Sock — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 11:02:15 GMT

An attention grabbinig subject title if ever there was one and also happens to be the title of an exhibition held in the Pyramid Glasshouse at Sydney Botanic Gardens. How could you not want to vist that even when you find out it is all to do with orchids?

By contrast the RHS sent out an email from entitled "Winter Wonder at the RHS Gardens". Totally unimaginative!!!!

Isn't it about time that the RHS 'sexed up' its image a bit more and conveyed the excitment of gardens and gardening to a wider audience?

Online Forum Results

VP — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 16:11:52 GMT

A number of people have told me they aren't able to join in tomorrow's forum owing to work commitments but are interested inseeing the results. How long will the Q and A discussion be available afterwards for them to view it?

RHS Website

VP — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 11:22:53 GMT

Congratulations to Geoff and his team for the recent changes made to the website. It's much better than it used to be and having a Search facility in particular has improved things immensely.

I'm interested in hearing about what's in the pipeline.

Membership subscriptions

Ant — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 09:50:21 GMT

The RHS is an important organisation for gardeners both in this country and overseas. Members are its lifeblood and it is important to run the Society for the members rather than use the members just to support the organisation. There is already one post relating to this concerning London Shows. Another, about a fifth garden, touches on the same area. Over recent years great progress has been made in giving a better geographical distribution of gardens available for members to visit. However there is a group of loyal supporters who are not getting the deal that they used to. This is the elderly. There used to be a reduced rate membership for those over 65. This was discontinued as 65 is the new 50 and those who used to have this advantage now have to pay the full rate. My question is would it be possible to to give those of 75 or even 80 a reduced rate? Many want to stay supporters but are less able to visit gardens and shows. The simple excuse for not doing this is the extra administration cost. The simple way for doing this would be to make the ' Under 25' membership category one of 'Under 25 and over 75' This would be a positive way of showing that older members are as important as the young and could get some very positive publicity. Yours, Ant

Carbon footprint of RHS gardens, shows and activities in general

greenjohn — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 11:10:16 GMT

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?

London Shows

sue lander — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 22:11:04 GMT

Why were the members not consulted about the discontinuation of many of the Westminster shows as they have traditionally provided a meeting place for members from all over the country. They were the soul of the RHS and it is understandable that many members are upset and not renewing their membership. Contrary to your statement recorded in the AGM minutes the letting of the halls makes a net profit of over £1m which clearly more than subsidises the cost of running the flower shows. Many of the exhibitors are also upset at their dwindling, especially those who showcase plants at Chelsea but now haven't a London show in June to sell to the public. Not only that but the Shows are an oasis to members but hardly publicised ( The Inner Temple Show) received far more publicity but, of course, members had to pay. It seems that the RHS is totally forgetting and ignoring members needs. The skills of the nurserymen and exchanging of knowledge will be bordering on extinction soon - who will be there to pass on these skills to the future generation(schools etc) that the RHS are targeting? It is excellent to enrol younger members but you need to hang on to them and who better can they learn from but experienced plantspeople. I sincerely hope that the RHS gets it's act together before it is too late.

RHS Achievements

VP — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 10:36:55 GMT

Talking to other gardeners (members and non-members), there seems to be a disconnection between work that the RHS does and its achievements and 'getting the message out there'. I've seen this disconnection between membership and organisation eleswhere, both as a volunteer and employee in the NGS sector.

What does the RHS feel it does well in this area and what plans are there to improve?

Membership

Digger — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 17:51:17 GMT

Hello directors, When people join and re join the RHS wouldn't it be a good idea to offer paid up members the opportunity to buy a nice enamel RHS members badge? of course members would pay for it but at the moment we don't have an enamel badge for members, we had one for the centenary but not for a general members badge, all the other societies have enamel badges and it gives fellow members the chance to recognise one another where ever they go, I think it would be a splendid idea for us to all buy a members enamel badge, you could get them made in China very cheaply but still charge say£5 for them, this will increase revenue and it will let members be recognised and take pride in their membership, the NVS has shirts and badges and jackets and ties for members and we all recognise each other instantly at major shows, it would be nice and good for business if RHS members had the opportunity to buy personal tee shirts jackets etc.. but mainly a badge would be a good idea and if it sells well (which it will) then you could do shirts and Jackets later on?

Planting seeds

jackiemur — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 10:09:12 GMT

Hi, can you help please. How do i know when planting seeds which need covering to obscure the light or which to leave open. These are seeds friends have given me from there gardens.

Wisley Plant Sales

VP — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 11:20:15 GMT

I'm asking this on behalf of someone who can't be here today:

I've noticed in the past couple of years that the plant centre at Wisley isn't nearly as good as it used to be, in terms of carrying a wide range of varieties. For example, you used to be able to rely on Wisley to carry daffodils 'in the green' (so useful for filling gaps) and the choice might include 'Barrett Browning', or 'Thalia'. Now all they seem to offer is 'Tete a Tete' or 'Bridal Crown', which you can buy absolutely anywhere.

for the science and learning bods

decide on one — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 23:18:38 GMT

When I first set up this net connect, three months ago, one of the first links I followed was about canker and chestnut trees. For 15 years now we have had the chestnut scale rampant in our area. As the chestnut scale is a living scale insect I presume it pierces, sucks and eliminates. Now we have cankers in the trees - cankers generally are a result of reaction to damage or toxins. Would the two be connected in any way?

Fifteen years ago, when it first occurred, the schoolkids were flogging them as magic mushrooms, did they do themselves any harm?

Matthew Wilson

Woodhay — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 09:38:46 GMT

I am interested in finding out what Matthew Wilson's new role encompasses - Head of Gardens Creative Development.

I read that it is to exploit new opportunities for visitor growth, but what does this mean. Campaigns? New Gardens? Education?......

Flyers sent with "The Garden" magazine

Tee Gee — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 16:43:48 GMT

Each month I browse these offers and find that some of the prices asked for are to my mind; 'extortionate' and this puts me off even considering buying any off them.

Similarly I have considered gardening tours & cruises and again I find the prices quite high!

I don't think these observations can be put down to current "national financial affairs" as this situation has been with us for years!

I would imagine that the RHS receive a commission on any sales but if many of our members think as I do sales/commission I would imagine will be quite low.

Would it not be better to be make these offers more competitive with the wider world and encourage people such as me to buy from these sources?

OK perhaps lower prices will equate to lower commission but I would have thought a few pence less from a sale is better than a 'no sale' at all!

I leave these thoughts with you......TG