Royal Horticultural Society

You don't need to be a specialist in horticulture to inspire the next generation! We’re calling on professionals from all backgrounds to volunteer with Inspiring the Future. Whether you work in horticulture, science, or design, your career journey and insights can have a huge impact on young people deciding their futures. And if you’re already involved in horticultural education – as a college tutor, trainer, or course leader – this is a brilliant way to further engage with young people and help them discover exciting career paths. Plus, it’s an opportunity to promote your organisation and create a pipeline of future applicants for your horticultural programmes or courses. Join us in making a difference! Find out more and sign up at this link: https://lnkd.in/dkqzzBed #Horticulture #Education

We’ve recently hosted the Third International ISHS Symposium on Greener Cities, at RHS Hilltop, Wisley, a 3-day conference that brought together over 200 researchers, experts, and horticulturists from across the globe to explore nature-based solutions, urban greening, and strategies to enhance ecosystem services in a climate-challenged world. It was a forum for exchanging ideas and presenting the latest green infrastructure innovations to help cities like London thrive sustainably. In this video, we look at some of the urban greening solutions already being implemented in the capital: 💚 Green facades, as seen on King's College London Hodgkin Building 💚 Pocket Parks such as Seething Lane Garden 💚 Living walls and indoor plants like the ones at London's Sky Garden. What green solutions have you spotted where you live?

This World Mental Health Day, we're shining a light on the NHS England's Green Social Prescribing Programme, which aims to improve people’s mental health and reduce both health inequalities and the demand on the health and social care system. The programme, launched in 2021, revealed that the prescribing of activities in nature has helped more than 8,000 people across England suffering with mental health problems. RHS Garden Bridgewater has been involved in the programme, and appointed a Therapeutic Gardener, Ozichi Brewster. As part of her role, Ozichi and a team of wellbeing volunteers host sessions in our new Wellbeing Garden. Some of the groups that have visited so far include care home residents, parent carer groups, NHS frontline workers and other professionals such as a staff team, mental health charities, asylum seeker and refugee groups, community centre groups, and many others. Find out more about gardening for mental wellbeing, and the Green Social Prescribing Programme on our website: https://lnkd.in/gzSvKU5C

There's still time to apply for a place in the RHS Council. Held annually, the RHS Elections allow the elected governing body to shape our policies, direction, and initiatives. Find out more about this great opportunity, and apply by 18 October: https://lnkd.in/dNwmhmPU 📷 RHS President Keith Weed leading the RHS Annual General Meeting

Our Head of Diversity & Inclusion, Mohamed Kebbay, has been recognised as one of Gardens Illustrated's Horticultural Heroes in 2024 – a list representing influential garden champions who are making a difference to places, people, plants and the planet! Congratulations and well done to Mo 👏 https://lnkd.in/eXsubt6p

This autumn, we're inviting people to join the RHS Big Seed Save (7-20 October) by saving seeds to grow plants for free or sharing them with friends and neighbours to meet people and try out new plants next year 🌱 The RHS Big Seed Save is part of our annual programme RHS Grow With It, which is designed to give gardeners, schools and communities year-round growing support. In 2024, the RHS Grow With It programme has seen nearly 15,000 schools, groups and community–minded individuals sowing and growing plants from seed. As well as connecting with their communities, participants have been looking at their water usage and exploring ways to be more water-wise. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/dPCW2bt6

Want to make a lasting impact on the future of horticulture? We’re proud to partner up with Inspiring the Future to connect volunteers with schools and colleges. By sharing your career story, you can inspire young people to explore the diverse and rewarding opportunities in horticulture. Whether you work in horticulture, science or design, your experience can make a difference! So far, we’ve reached 25,000 students across the UK, and now we need more volunteers to help promote horticultural careers. Volunteering is easy and flexible, all it takes is just 1 hour a year, and you can do it in person or online! Sign up today and inspire the next generation: https://lnkd.in/dkqzzBed #Horticultute #Volunteering

Ever wondered what goes on underneath a mushroom cap? Mushrooms release spores from their underside that can reveal a lot about their identity 🍄 Follow along with Heidi Wheatley, RHS Plant Health team summer placement, as she takes you through the steps to make your own spore print at home to help you identify mushrooms, and celebrate #UKFungusDay!

Held every autumn, the RHS John MacLeod Annual Lecture invites prominent speakers to explore issues in horticultural science. Join us on Thursday 24 October at RHS Hilltop, Wisley, to hear guest speaker Dr Mark Goddard talk about the importance of private gardens for biodiversity conservation in cities, as well as how his research explores gardening ‘myths’. See the full programme: https://lnkd.in/ecffRwX3

The RHS and UCL would like to hear from you about the kinds of compost and plants you have bought this year, and your thoughts and experiences with peat-free compost 🌱 This survey is open to anyone who owns, buys or takes care of any kinds of plants, including tending to indoor houseplants, gardening outdoors in an allotment, private or communal garden, or gardening as part of your profession. Alistair Griffiths, RHS Director of Science & Collections says, "We want to understand where the differences are [with peat-free], and how we can continue to help gardeners to grow amazing plants peat-free." The aim is to gain insight into the UK public’s views and experiences with buying and using peat-free products. This will help our researchers make recommendations for how to support gardeners in the coming years, as the horticultural industry makes the peat-free transition. Visit the Peat-free gardening hub on the RHS website for helpful advice, and take the survey at this link: https://lnkd.in/dgnQVQg6