Garden Finder > England > Surrey > RHS Garden, Wisley

Last updated on 13 May 09

RHS Garden, Wisley

  4.5/5 (2 ratings)
  • RHS Garden Wisley, August Photograph © Gardenvisit.com
  • Glasshouse, RHS Garden Wisley Photograph © Gardenvisit.com
  • Glasshouse Lake and Borders, RHS Garden Wisley Photograph © RHS Garden Wisley/Allan Pollock-Morris

Gardenvisit Editorial

The garden was established by George Wilson, a chemist and horticulturalist, and given to the RHS in 1903. It continues to be developed. Edward White designed the rock garden in 1911. Woodland, heather and bog gardens were added. Lanning Roper designed a walled canal garden in the 1960s. There are many demonstration gardens and, of course, an excellent plant collection.

History

The Royal Horticultural Society was given Wisley in 1903, although at that time only a small part of the 60-acre estate was actually cultivated as a garden, the remainder being wooded farmland. Today the garden covers over 200 acres and offers a fascinating blend of the beautiful with practical and innovative design and cultivation techniques. For many, it is the beauty and tranquility of the garden that captures the imagination, with its richly planted borders, luscious rose gardens and the exotica of the glasshouses. Wisley is also a leading experimental garden however where many cultivation techniques are tried and tested.

Address - Wisley, nr Woking, Surrey, England, GU23 6QB
Opening times - All year. Daily except Christmas. See RHS Garden Wisley website for opening times.
Admission - Adult £8.50, RHS Members plus Guest Free, Children £2.00. Groups of 10+ Adults £6.50, Children £1.60.
Website - Visit the RHS Garden, Wisley website

Designers and Influences

This garden has been designed and influenced by Lanning Roper

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Recent Reviews

  • 9 months ago Selina Botham said

    In recent years Wisley has become an inspiring garden to visit. Even the bedding as you enter was different this summer. It had been formed rather like a sculpture and made from mounds of red bedding shaped as a dragon. How interesting to see new ideas.

    The planting around the new glasshouse is fabulous and Tom Stewart Smith has designed a master piece. I love the curves of the beds as they encircle the lake and accentuate the topography of the site. The grasses and soft planting contrasts well with the clipped hornbeam which has been used in the straighter more formal areas.

    The Education centre and garden is also very innovative and the teaching staff are happy to try out new things. This summer they have been featuring interactive sound sculptures which local Sculptor Claire Knights made for my Gold medal winning RHS Hampton Court Garden. The small show garden was all about appreciating sound in the garden and the team at RHS wanted to be able to encourage the children to listen to the sounds around them. We are hoping that for half term the percussion screens used in the show garden will also be installed for use during the 'Family Days'. Please see my webb site www.designsforallseasons.co.uk to see my award winning garden and see my particular style of garden design.

    Witton Street is an opportunity to see some small show gardens which are permanent exhibits and hopefully there will be more of these or they will change every couple of years. I long to see the small gardens get a makeover and a breath of fresh thinking - I expect this will be next. It feels to me that this is a garden to watch and keep returning to.

    (4.0/5)
  • about 1 year ago Adam Hodge said

    It's impossible to over visit this garden ! Rather like the Hilliers gardens and Arboretum it is a plant-lovers heaven. Pleasantly laid out, with an interesting range of garden design styles and an enormous selection of fascinating plants with lots to admire in flower whatever the time of year. Now that the new glasshouse is built and the plantings are flourishing one can enjoy a day in the tropics as well! It has a good range of exotic flowering plants to always be interesting.

    (5.0/5)

See all the reviews of RHS Garden, Wisley