With a foreword by Alan Titchmarsh, this beautifully illustrated book tells the story ofthe Royal Horticultural Society, the perhaps the foremost gardening institution in the world. The RHS is the worlds largest gardening charity but what it does and why is little understood and rarely celebrated. From defining newgardening trends at the Chelsea Flower Show, to rankingthe best dahlias to grow at the Wisley trial grounds, to inspiring communities with Britain in Bloom, educating children to grow and eat their veg throughthe Campaign for School Gardening,the RHS works tirelessly to improve the gardeners lot. With the use of evocative archive imagesand contemporary photos by award-winning Jason Ingram, this beautiful book exploresthe past, present and future of this most influential organisation by listening to the voices of those working today. Gardening expert and regularGardeners Question Timepanellist Matthew Biggs tells this story in rich and intimate detail, from the societys origins at the start of the 19th Century right through to the present day, with fascinating insight into the evolution and operations of the RHS throughout the years. From the thousands of volunteers in the societys five unique gardens (Wisley in Surrey, Rosemoor in Devon, Hyde Hall in Essex, Harlow Carr in Yorkshire and new addition Bridgewater in Salford), to the one million visitors to its inspirationalflower shows(including Chelsea, Hampton Court, Tatton Park, Cardiff, Wisley and Chatsworth); the society gives meaning to more than 475,000 members, millions of television viewers and visitors from around the world. The RHS is the best of gardening, and this book presents the best of the RHS. Behind the scenes, access all areas, this book will give lasting pleasure to anyone who enjoys their garden.
