Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
General Subjects => Wisley Alpine Log – Feedback Forum => Topic started by: Maggi Young on January 31, 2014, 11:22:27 PM
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Colin Crosby, Wisley Curator, SRGC and forum member - and passionate cake connoisseur - has bits of twitter news
Proud members of the RHS Wisley Garden team with BBC Countryfile Magazine, 2013, Favourite Garden Award
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And -
next Plant Society event will be the Cyclamen Society Early Spring Show, on 8 February 2014 with a Talk and Book signing by Brian Mathew 8)
http://www.cyclamen.org/ (http://www.cyclamen.org/)
https://twitter.com/colincurator (https://twitter.com/colincurator)
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Photos from Wisley by Sophie Leguil, "retweeted" by Colin Crosbie
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https://twitter.com/SLeguil
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What a lovely display of hoop petticoats! Pure sunshine.
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Another photo shared online by the RHS from Wisley Alpine House
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Colin C. pictures Galanthus 'Magnet' (https://twitter.com/colincurator/status/430377249897193472/photo/1) in the Wild Garden
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Not all the news from Wisley is good :
Disturbing news of a theft from the alpine house at Wisley this weekend :
"Sad news of plant theft from Wisley - 3 special plants stolen from our Alpine Display this weekend." https://twitter.com/RHSWisley/status/430753305812164608
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Another Twitter comment :
Christine Walkden @ChristineWalkd
@RHSWisley This is so sad. You grow super plants for all to enjoy and then this occurs. Keep eyes open at AGS and SRGC shows, you never know
An absolutely shocking comment and one that I would not agree with at all and I am surprised that CW would even suggest it. More than a little offensive to my mind - - the exhibitors at the AGS and SRGC shows would never countenance such vile behaviour as stealing.
I would bet that such thefts are either entirely random or else perpetrated by crazed "collectors" ( I use the term loosely) for their own personal warped purposes, to gloat over.
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Libellous I'd say!
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I have had a reply from Christine Walkden, who clarified her meaning :
"Thanks for the email. I am sorry if I caused offence, as that is not what I intended to do.
I intended it as a warning to those of us who care about the loss of plants in this way.
I was really meaning that I have had experience at shows where the exchange of dubious material takes place in the cars parks at such events as AGS shows and have often wondered how these often difficult and rare plants are passed around. This activity is never a honest person and certainly would not be a member of the AGS etc but people who come to such shows thinking that they can get a quick sale from people that do not know any better. This is not just plant show, it occurs in the world of small pets as well.
You may have seen the recent emails about the theft of Olive trees and indeed the water lily from Kew having been taken. It is known in the industry that this type of material often shows up in places where plant enthusiast gather.
Having been a life member of the AGS, SRGC, ARGC, etc etc for over 40 years I am very aware of the credibility and integrity of the vast majority of the people attending these venues, but I am also aware of a small amount activity that all members would find difficult to tolerate.
Please be re assured that I had no intention at all of being offensive. I am very sorry if that is how it came across, and value your time in letting me know that it was read and taken in that light. My comment was one meant to warn. I think the problem with twitter etc is that things can be mis understood and I promise you that I had no intention of being rude or offensive to any respectable member of any plant group let alone the AGS, SRGC etc.
Thanks for pointing out my poor wording.
Yours faithfully
Christine"
Christine has also posted this on Twitter : "Sorry if previous tweet upset AGS etc it was not meant to , but sent as a warning about plant theft. AGS etc are strong supporters of RHS"
Very nice to have this clarification by CW of her "tweet" - for which I am sure we are all grateful.
If anyone is offered plants that may be suspicious, or becomes aware of anyone suddenly being in possession of unexpected pots of rare plants - please phone the police.
We HAVE to get the point across without doubt that theft is entirely unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
These thefts tarnish more than reputations - they inflict damage to our hobby from all aspects.
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Quite a few trees lost at Wisley in the recent storm : 5 Eucalyptus, 1 large Scots pine, 1 large Abies plus Sorbus hedlundii down on Battleston Hill.
Colin Crosbie wisely regarding this less as a sad loss, more as a planting opportunity. Tough love!
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A fallen eucalypt at Wisley
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Quite a few trees lost at Wisley in the recent storm : 5 Eucalyptus, 1 large Scots pine, 1 large Abies plus Sorbus hedlundii down on Battleston Hill.
Colin Crosbie wisely regarding this less as a sad loss, more as a planting opportunity. Tough love!
Here too, work for the chainsaw and new planting opportunities.
Fortunately space, seclusion and a tolerant family allow me to leave some fallen timber to enrich the local environment.
Yesterday I finally released a patient eucryphia (E. lucida 'Ballerina') and some rhododendrons (incl. R. titapuriense) in clearings among fallen trees. More to follow as weather permits.
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The four RHS Gardens - Wisley in Surrey, Rosemoor in Devon, Hyde Hall in Essex and Harlow Carr in Yorkshire - will be offering FREE entry to all on Friday 7 March during normal opening hours.
"Why not bring your friends and relatives along and enjoy the lovely spring colours in the gardens; great shopping in the RHS Plant Centres and Shops and delicious food in the restaurant and tearooms."
Go to this page : http://www.rhs.org.uk/Gardens/Free-Day-Friday (http://www.rhs.org.uk/Gardens/Free-Day-Friday) to download your free tickets.
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The clocks may not have changed yet, but Wisley is now on summer hours - open until 6pm (last admission 5pm).
Spring Plant Fair at RHSWisley Friday 21 to Sunday 23rd March : over 30 specialist nurseries attending.
http://www.rhs.org.uk/Gardens/Wisley/What-s-on/Spring-plant-fair (http://www.rhs.org.uk/Gardens/Wisley/What-s-on/Spring-plant-fair)
You can also get advice from three Plant Societies over the weekend. Enjoy their displays and find out more about their work:
British Cactus and Succulent Society
Delphinium Society
Plant Heritage
WISLEY SPRING PLANT FAIR - Exhibitor List
Chris Cooke, D’Arcy & Everest, Derbyshire Bonsai, Devine Nurseries, Edulis Nursery,
Floyds Climbers & Clematis, Glen’s Garden Gems, Hardy’s Cottage Garden Plants, Harts Nursery,
Heucheraholics, Hillview Hardy Plants, Hoyland Plant Centre, Jacques Amand International,
John Hall Plants Ltd, Kelnan Plants, Mandy Plants, Morton Nurseries Ltd, Oak Tree Nursery, Pennard Plants,
Pepperpot Nursery, Pheasant Acre Plants, Plantbase, Plantagogo, Primrose Bank, Priorswood Clematis, Richard and Sheena Drane, Roualeyn Fuchsias, Rougham Hall, Tale Valley Nursery, The Botanic Nursery,
Trewidden Nursery, W&S Lockyer, The Walnut Tree Company
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It was a fine day for a visit to Wisley yesterday.
The alpine meadow was looking great, with lots of Narcissus bulbocodium nodding in the breeze and Erythronium just coming into their own.
The first time Ive seen the crevice garden, very impressive, containing lots of interest and plenty of flower there too.
Sax's (and Primulas) looking good on the tufa walls.
A riot of colour in the plunge.
And plenty of woodlanders blooming in the wild garden (Rhododendron arboreum x carophytum).
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Busy day at Wisley for outside societies - Orchid and Carniverous Plant socs. showing glasshouse and Cyclamen Society Show too.
Picture purloined from Curator Colin Crosbie :
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"Carnivorous Plant Society display also in the Glasshouse today. An impressive Drosera slackii! What a day for plants!" C.C.
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I get shocked everytime I see this thread's title wondering if Wisley has been closed down by the RHS Ecopolice for not growing enough cabbage or something and no-one's told me.
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Sorry, David - didn't realise that the title would have that connotation - though I've been reading that up to 125 jobs may be under threat at Kew ( where there are 750 "roles" it seems) because of the money shortfall for the costs there, so anything might happen, I suppose. :-X
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Changing the title of the thread from 'Wisley- what's happening' to 'What's new at Wisley' to avoid frightening the horses!
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Neigh Maggi. Ta
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At Wisley today there has been "the World of Alpines - Enjoy displays of alpine plants and bulbs as well as photographs of alpines around the world."
Photo from Colin Crosbie on Twitter
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"At the World of Alpines at RHSWisley today, amazing display of plants plus great knowledge from the growers!
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See Here (http://www.rhs.org.uk/Gardens/Wisley/What-s-on/Plant-Society-events) for more Wisley events
More RHS Stuff for the coming week : Hear Kate Bradbury talk Climate Change & Biodiversity on 1 April as part of the RHS Great London Plant Fair - a celebration of gardening in the city at the RHS London Spring Fair Late - a plant fair with a difference... on Tuesday 1 April 2014 from 6pm. Tickets only £5 or free to RHS members - book online at http://bit.ly/1h9JqUZ (http://bit.ly/1h9JqUZ) or buy on the door.
- see more RHS events here (http://www.rhs.org.uk/About-Us/RHS-Lindley-Library/Exhibitions-and-events)
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Spring Gardening Weekend 12 & 13 Apr - talks with James Wong (Sat 12) & Joe Swift (Sun 13)
http://www.rhs.org.uk/Gardens/Wisley/What-s-on/Spring-Gardening-Weekend-2014 (http://www.rhs.org.uk/Gardens/Wisley/What-s-on/Spring-Gardening-Weekend-2014)
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James Wong and Joe Swift - photo from RHS
"Spring Gardening Weekend kicks off National Gardening Week (14 – 20 April).
Among the many highlights are talks from Joe Swift (Sun) and James Wong (Sat), lawn maintenance demonstrations (Sat), herb growing advice, and the colourful RHS Early Rhododendron Competition. You can also enjoy orchid displays, alpine trough demonstrations and advice, displays by the National Veg Society and much more.
Booking not required - places on a first-come, first-served basis. "
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Wisley Flower Show 2 -7th September 2014 - "A floral extravaganza!"
2 – 6 September: 9am – 6pm
7 September: 9am – 5pm
Last entry one hour before closing.
"Don't miss this six-day floral extravaganza set in the stunning surroundings of Wisley, and featuring the National Dahlia Society Annual Show.
Browse and buy from RHS Chelsea and Hampton Court Palace Flower Show medal winners, along with other specialist nurseries and garden trade stands who will be showcasing their top quality plants and garden sundries."
Full details :
https://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley/Articles/Wisley-Flower-Show (https://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley/Articles/Wisley-Flower-Show)
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John Grimshaw has blogged about a recent visit to Wisley :
http://johngrimshawsgardendiary.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/a-sunny-day-at-wisley.html (http://johngrimshawsgardendiary.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/a-sunny-day-at-wisley.html)
He thinks it's looking as good as he's ever seen it- and has the photos to prove it!
Hydrangea paniculata Vanille Fraise ('Renhy') is particularly lovely, to my mind.
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The Wisley grass team have come up with a living advert for the September show ;D
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Wisley Flower Show 2 -7th September 2014 - "A floral extravaganza!"
2 – 6 September: 9am – 6pm
7 September: 9am – 5pm
Last entry one hour before closing.
"Don't miss this six-day floral extravaganza set in the stunning surroundings of Wisley, and featuring the National Dahlia Society Annual Show.
Browse and buy from RHS Chelsea and Hampton Court Palace Flower Show medal winners, along with other specialist nurseries and garden trade stands who will be showcasing their top quality plants and garden sundries."
Full details :
https://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley/Articles/Wisley-Flower-Show (https://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley/Articles/Wisley-Flower-Show)
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Two jobs advertised at Wisley:
Job Title - Garden Manager x 2
Location - RHS Garden Wisley, Woking, Surrey
Salary - Circa £35,000 per annum
Closing date - Friday 05 September 2014
https://www.rhs.org.uk/about-the-rhs/work-for-the-rhs/vacancies/Garden-Manager-x-2 (https://www.rhs.org.uk/about-the-rhs/work-for-the-rhs/vacancies/Garden-Manager-x-2)
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I am pleased that SRGC has been contacted by the RHS to let us know that there are various employment opportunities at RHS Wisley at the moment, including a post of Horticulturist in the Alpine Team :
https://www.rhs.org.uk/about-the-rhs/work-for-the-rhs/vacancies/Horticulturist-Alpine-Team (https://www.rhs.org.uk/about-the-rhs/work-for-the-rhs/vacancies/Horticulturist-Alpine-Team)
"RHS Garden Wisley is one of the great gardens of the world. As a Horticulturist, you will be responsible for the care, cultivation and maintenance of specific areas of the garden/relevant support services, for contributing to the delivery of garden/support service plans, programmes of work and guidance to trainees and volunteers. You should have a good general knowledge of horticultural practice or relevant specialism and have the ability to lead or work as part of a team.
We currently have a Horticulturist vacancy available within the Alpine Section, at Level I or Level II, depending on your skills and experience. For this vacancy you should be familiar with a range of standard horticultural techniques and principles.
We offer a wide range of benefits as part of your employment package, which include 25 days holiday and life assurance."
See all job opportunites here : https://www.rhs.org.uk/about-the-rhs/work-for-the-rhs/vacancies (https://www.rhs.org.uk/about-the-rhs/work-for-the-rhs/vacancies)
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A two week trip to Bigland meant there was plenty of time for visiting. We went to Wisley on 2 Jan on the premise that I HAD to do some photocopying at the library. A very busy day, but it was still possible to find quiet corners away from the big glasshouse and restaurants. My focus was the alpine areas of course, although we also enjoyed the wild garden and winter shrubs (and plant centre :o). The rock garden is in the process of being revamped, so not so much to see outside, but the alpine house was full of colour.
The first plant to catch our eyes was Daubenya marginata, of which there was more than one specimen on show.
There were lots of hoop petticoat Narcissus on display, including a number of heritage cultivars mentioned here: http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=12269.msg321117#msg321117 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=12269.msg321117#msg321117)
This potful of Narcissus albidus was looking especially good.
However, their plant of Narcissus romieuxii 'Atlas Gold' does not appear to be as golden as the one I grow under this name: http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=12513.msg320047#msg320047 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=12513.msg320047#msg320047)
Apologies for the poor quality of some of the photos, but I was using a small 'pocket' camera, which is not as good as my usual one.
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Cyclamen were almost as abundant as the Narcissus. A selection here, including:
Cyclamen coum
Cyclamen libanoticum with its musky fragrance
Cyclamen hederifolium (Bowles' Apollo Group) 'Artemis'
Cyclamen balearicum in bud
Cyclamen coum with a good silver leaf pattern
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A smattering of Crocus will round off this report, although Patrick will tell me off for not having taken any photos of the Lachenalia :-X
Crocus chrysanthus
Crocus rujanensis (which appears to be from Archibold seed)
Crocus sieberi 'Albus'
Crocus baytopiorum
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Thanks for your report Matt, is it the big rock garden that is being re-vamped or the crevice please? Hoping to combine a visit to Wisley and to the Savill Gardens in Windsor sometime this Spring.
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Hi David, it's the big rock garden undergoing a revamp. They say it should be complete by March 2015. The crevice is looking rather good, even at this time of year.
M
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Cheers Matt.
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Some of the plants in the Alpine House on 7 February.
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And some more.
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Yet more.
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Last batch...
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Thanks for sharing these, Steve, a lovely display. I miss my trips to Wisley.
Chris
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Nice display, thanks for sharing.
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'Tweeted' by Colin Crosbie, Curator at Wisley , April 15th - "The team at RHSWisley who have been helping today with some major replanting of the Rock Garden. Exciting times! "
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Job opportunity at Wisley
RHS Garden Wisley announces a position for an alpine horticulturist:
https://www.rhs.org.uk/about-the-rhs/work-for-the-rhs/vacancies/horticulturist-alpine-team (https://www.rhs.org.uk/about-the-rhs/work-for-the-rhs/vacancies/horticulturist-alpine-team)
Please forward the announcement to any interested person.
Closing date for applications is 23 October 2015.
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A recent visit on 16th January
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some more from the alpine display house
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and more
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and more
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In image SRGC-17 I spot some Fritillaria striata at the far right - such a beautiful flower but spoiled by an ungainly growth habit. Touch of Schadenfreude that it also grows like that at Wisley! ::)
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On the VRV forum there are some photos from June 2015 which show the progress of the Crevice Garden etc .... enjoy!
http://www.vrvforum.be/forum/index.php?topic=1926.0 (http://www.vrvforum.be/forum/index.php?topic=1926.0)
( You will also find a link to another VRV thread of a Wsiley visit in 2011)
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On a very different tack to alpines the main glasshouse range was attracting enthusiastic crowds to see the butterflies. Apparently brought in as pupae from Belize. I didn't get around to checking the names!
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more
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Stan those butterflies are so lovely, brightens up a boring evening.
Angie :)
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Lincolnshire nurseryman Rob Potterton (http://www.pottertons.co.uk/) has shared these photos of the crevice gardens at Wisley - they are looking well settled now, are they not?
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There was time for a quick visit to Wisley before Christmas. The car park was packed, but I'm not sure where everyone was as the parts of the garden I visited were very quiet. Didn't take many photos, but here are a few highlights from the alpine house.
A wonderful potful of Crocus cambessedesii
Narcissus cantabricus
Daubenya marginata
Crocus wattiorum
Crocus laevigatus in a particularly lovely dark, striped form
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Lincolnshire nurseryman Rob Potterton (http://www.pottertons.co.uk/) has shared these photos of the crevice gardens at Wisley - they are looking well settled now, are they not?
Maggi, the crevice garden looks wonderful now. It was quite bare-looking when I saw it just before the Nottingham Conference. Large crevice gardens seem to swallow plants but in a few years they make their presence known. I remember spending all day planting and at the end of the day it didn't look much different. I'd love to be able to go back and see what happened to the plants I remember there.
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Panayoti Kelaidis from Denver Botanic Garden was recently in England and has written about some of the places he visited in his Prairiebreak Blogspot - here is a link to photos from Wisley:
http://prairiebreak.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/technicolor-wisley-part-one.html (http://prairiebreak.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/technicolor-wisley-part-one.html)
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Two of the team leaders at Wisley who showed PK and Jan around on their visit: Gemma Neech on the left and Peter Goodchild on the right.
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Threats of a "land-grab" at Wisley for road changes - read more :
RHS - Royal Horticultural Society
We need your support! As you may have already seen in the press this morning, RHS Garden Wisley is under threat. Wisley could have more than 10,000 sq. metres of woodland grabbed and more than 500 trees destroyed, including one planted by The Queen to mark her Silver Jubilee, if one of Highways England’s plans is developed. Find out more at www.rhs.org.uk/wisleythreat (http://www.rhs.org.uk/wisleythreat),
and please sign our petition to ensure these plans do not affect the future of our garden at www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/372/679/924/ (http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/372/679/924/)
On the RHS page there is a video featuring Matthew Pottage, explaining the damage that could be done - trying a link here...
http://youtu.be/NopVkCnQJro (http://youtu.be/NopVkCnQJro)
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Update on the threatened Wisley "land grab" -
From The RHS.....
"What a great way to start December - we're delighted that Highways England have announced their preferred A3 plans will not impact @RHSWisley's 500 important trees!
A huge thank you for your immense support, inc. the 130,000+ people who signed our petition to save the Garden, and to Alan Titchmarsh who championed this cause!
Find out more at
https://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley/Articles/Wisley-under-threat-from-A3-plans/rhs-response-to-highways-england (https://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley/Articles/Wisley-under-threat-from-A3-plans/rhs-response-to-highways-england)
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Alan Titchmarsh who objected to the new road's damage to Wisley's trees
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Wisley and tress