RHS membership

I've read that the RHS seems to be more suited to gardeners who have huge gardens - by huge I mean in terms of acres.

The magazine that they publish concentrates mainly upon huge gardens - so is of little interest, I am told, to those of us (the majority) who have smaller plots.

It seems to me that in the race to pack as many houses as possible onto a building plot - there are massive houses with next to no garden.

Any RHS members have a view on this?

Is the demise of the RHS on the cards?

 

I understand where you're coming from, but they also do focus a lot on small gardens - have you seen their "greening grey Britain" campaign. Also I just love being a member because I love visiting show gardens, and I'm particularly excited about their new garden in Manchester which will be near to me!

 

We got ours with Tesco club card points, mainly for free entrance to Wisley whenever we fancy & access to members day at Hampton Court as it’s too claustrophobic otherwise

 

I've been a member for many years and although I don't live close to any of the RHS gardens I do visit member gardens and make the most of my membership when on holiday in the UK. I get lots of inspiration from the gardens featured and articles in the magazine. I agree that the content, especially the ads, is more aspirational but it's good to see how the other half lives. I'm a fan of Roy Lancaster and Helen Dillon who are regular contributors to the magazine and both have downsized their gardens but are true plants people and a mine of horticultural knowledge.

I also get the Garden News magazine which features gardens and allotments on a more modest scale. It has a more down to earth approach to gardening but, being weekly, it is a good reminder of what should be done. Horses for courses but I enjoy both.

 

Yes The Garden does highlight a fair few larger gardens, however it also highlights smaller backyard gardens, community gardens in alley ways or on spare patches of ground, have seen a balcony garden in there as well.
The advice on pests, problems and pruning are generally applicable to any size of garden as are articles on specific plants and container gardening. Recently there have been some articles on house plants.

 

I was a member for about 15 yrs, but packed it in about ten years ago.
Partly as I found the Journal a bit boring but mainly because I was not getting my money's worth going to places.
Wisley was probably the only place I visited that got me in for free.

 

I get more inspiration from walking and driving past other peoples gardens..I'm only an amateur who likes gardening with an eye for what looks nice to me and if I can improve or put a slant on things then so be it...an RHS membership would be of no use to me (a subscription would help them more than I)...Talking with an old man down his allotment would provide me with more joy, stories and practical advice...some of the old ways I feel have got lost in modern technology....just my view I might add....

 

Oh blimey, they let kids in now?

I used to feel bad just walking past the restaurant , in jeans.

 

My first experience of the RHS was in 1960, when I was nominated and duly elected a Fellow of the RHS. In those days nomination and election was the only way of getting in. The monthy journal was small and drab looking. I have to be honest and admit that the means by which one became part of this world wide respected organization did perhaps bring about a bit of self importance.

The design of the journal has changed several times over the years. From the days of the scientific format with occassional line drawings. I still feel that in those days, there was much more of a closenes between Fellows than what exists today. The larger format of today certainly does credit to the pictorial display of gardens but also the illustrative aspect in displaying numerous members of various plant families.

I do find, and I have mentioned this to the society more than once. Very little page space is given over to what / who are now known as members. There no longer exists the availability for members to share or request plants.

Membership is probably due in the main to, Gift memberships. Does solve the present buying, if auntie Maude like flowers. Then of course,"What do I get out of it" I usually visit the London shows also Wisley gardens. Chelsea, been there done that.....TOO crowded. Other gardens No.

My response to the RHS collapsing etc. NO. It is a world-wide respected charity, and it's horticultural standards are recognised around the world. It's teaching and training is of very high standards. I would like to see local schools being catered for, also the, the reintroduction of evening classes and the like. Yes the RHS is a registered charity. Believe me. Like most charities their coffers are well lined. Something that really bugs me is the lack of socialability at places like Wisley, Kew and others. Try and have a chat with the ground staff. They seem to clam up, as if big brother is watching them. Enjoy your gardening.

 

The childrens area came about probably due to Wisley gardens being more or less the local park. Mind you. Visiting with the kids or on your own. Take a flask and a sandwich.

 

...I agree with Elaine. They are doing some high quality outreach work these days and broadening the demographics of people they aim to get gardening.
I also like the members' seed scheme, where you can get 15 packs of seed harvested from their gardens for £8.50 Many of the plants listed are difficult and/or expensive to obtain.

 

Visited my brothers this weekend for a family party . They live just across the A3 to Wisley. Now I have always wanted to visit Wisley , brother and his wife have RHS membership . So a visit on Sunday morning was planned before driving home up the delightful M25 . After nearly 4 months of bone dry weather , we had steady heavy rain We'll try again on our next visit.

 

I actually spoke to someone involved in the Bridgewater garden near Salford and they said part of the plan was to try to get the RHS into more socially and culturally diverse areas so people shouldn't view it as a posh southern club!! So anyone who wants membership you can get an extra £5 voucher which I pointed out in this thread

 

Yes, that's explicitly an aim and I'm really pleased Sue Biggs is talking about it. Growing plants, especially knowing how food crops are grown, liking gardens and flowers shouldn't be just a posh thing, or something for old people, or white Brits.

Another factor with destinations (be they gardens or flower shows) is that planning tends to be done on the basis of additional population within say, a 90min journey. This sort of thing can easily be plotted on GIS maps. So it made sense to 'target' the NW as they have a garden in the NE as well as (rival) shows there, and a new flower show at Chatsworth in the Midlands.