Wisley was founded by Victorian businessman and RHS member George Ferguson Wilson,[4] who purchased a 60-acre (243,000 m²) site in 1878.[2] He established the "Oakwood Experimental Garden"[5][6] on part of the site, where he attempted to "make difficult plants grow successfully". Wilson died in 1902 and Oakwood (which was also known as Glebe Farm[7]) was purchased by Sir Thomas Hanbury,[8] the creator of the celebrated garden La Mortola on the Italian Riviera. He gave the Wisley site to the RHS in 1903.
Wisley is now a large and diverse garden covering 240 acres (971,000 m²). In addition to numerous formal and informal decorative gardens, several glasshouses and an extensive arboretum, it includes a trials field where new cultivars are assessed. The original laboratory, for both scientific research and training, was originally opened in 1907, but proved inadequate. It was expanded and its exterior was rebuilt during World War I. It was designated a Grade II Listed building in 1985.[7] Visitor numbers increased significantly from 5,250 in 1905, to 11,000 in 1908, 48,000 in the late 1920s, and 170,000 in 1957, and passed 400,000 in 1978, 500,000 in 1985, and 600,000 in 1987.[7]
In April 2005, Alan Titchmarsh cut the turf to mark the start of construction of the Bicentenary Glasshouse.[10] This major new feature covers three quarters of an acre (3,000 m²) and overlooks a new lake built at the same time. It is divided into three main planting zones representing desert, tropical and temperate climates. It was budgeted at £7.7 million and opened on 26 June 2007.[11] A £20 million Welcome Building including a larger restaurant, cafe and visitor facilities was opened by Alan Titchmarsh on 10 June 2019.[12]
^Elliott, Brent. "'Experimental Gardening: Wisley in the Nineteenth Century' in Occasional Papers from the RHS Lindley Library, volume 11, January 2014" (PDF). Retrieved 26 April 2021.
^"Explore our RHS Libraries in London and RHS Gardens".
^Elliott, Brent. "The British Rock Garden in the Twentieth Century in Occasional Papers from the RHS Lindley Library, volume 6, May 2011, pp 3-9" (PDF).
Bibliographyedit
RHS (2017). "RHS Garden Wisley". Retrieved 3 January 2017.
Desmond, Ray (1994) [1977]. Dictionary of British and Irish botanists and horticulturalists: including plant collectors, flower painters and garden designers (2nd ed.). London: Taylor & Francis. ISBN9780850668438.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to RHS Wisley.
Official website
1987 Advertisement for Director
December 14, 2023
garden, wisley, garden, royal, horticultural, society, wisley, surrey, south, london, five, gardens, society, others, being, harlow, carr, hyde, hall, rosemoor, bridgewater, which, opened, 2021, wisley, second, most, visited, paid, entry, garden, united, kingd. RHS Garden Wisley 2 is a garden run by the Royal Horticultural Society in Wisley Surrey south of London It is one of five gardens run by the society the others being Harlow Carr Hyde Hall Rosemoor and Bridgewater which opened on 18 May 2021 3 Wisley is the second most visited paid entry garden in the United Kingdom after the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew with 1 232 772 visitors in 2019 1 RHS Garden WisleyThe laboratory at Wisley Garden with the canal in the foregroundLocation in SurreyTypeGardenLocationWisleyCoordinates51 18 47 N 0 28 27 W 51 3130 N 0 4742 W 51 3130 0 4742Area240 acres 97 ha Created1878Operated byRoyal Horticultural SocietyVisitors1 232 772 2019 1 OpenAll year round Contents 1 History 2 Description 3 Features 4 Gallery 5 References 6 Bibliography 7 External linksHistory editWisley was founded by Victorian businessman and RHS member George Ferguson Wilson 4 who purchased a 60 acre 243 000 m site in 1878 2 He established the Oakwood Experimental Garden 5 6 on part of the site where he attempted to make difficult plants grow successfully Wilson died in 1902 and Oakwood which was also known as Glebe Farm 7 was purchased by Sir Thomas Hanbury 8 the creator of the celebrated garden La Mortola on the Italian Riviera He gave the Wisley site to the RHS in 1903 Directors have included 9 Frederick Chittenden 1919 1931 Robert Lewis Harrow 1931 1946 John Gilmour 1946 1951 Harold Roy Fletcher 1951 1954 Francis Philip Knight 1954 1969 Christopher Brickell 1969 1985 Peter Joseph Maudsley 1985 1987 Philip McMillan BrowseDescription editWisley is now a large and diverse garden covering 240 acres 971 000 m In addition to numerous formal and informal decorative gardens several glasshouses and an extensive arboretum it includes a trials field where new cultivars are assessed The original laboratory for both scientific research and training was originally opened in 1907 but proved inadequate It was expanded and its exterior was rebuilt during World War I It was designated a Grade II Listed building in 1985 7 Visitor numbers increased significantly from 5 250 in 1905 to 11 000 in 1908 48 000 in the late 1920s and 170 000 in 1957 and passed 400 000 in 1978 500 000 in 1985 and 600 000 in 1987 7 In April 2005 Alan Titchmarsh cut the turf to mark the start of construction of the Bicentenary Glasshouse 10 This major new feature covers three quarters of an acre 3 000 m and overlooks a new lake built at the same time It is divided into three main planting zones representing desert tropical and temperate climates It was budgeted at 7 7 million and opened on 26 June 2007 11 A 20 million Welcome Building including a larger restaurant cafe and visitor facilities was opened by Alan Titchmarsh on 10 June 2019 12 Features edit nbsp Pink rhododendron at RHS Wisley 2013Wisley has a large number of features including the following 13 RHS Hilltop The home of Gardening Science Wildlife Garden Wellbeing Garden amp World Food Garden Glasshouse with desert tropical and temperate climates and with special topical displays Clore Learning Centre Alpine houses Laboratory Library 14 Plant information centre Trials field where plants are submitted for trial allowing some to be awarded the prestigious Award of Garden Merit Fruit field featuring large numbers of apples pears and other fruit grown in various forms Rock garden 15 and alpine meadow on a sloping site Wild garden Walled garden Canal with water lilies in season Battleston Hill which includes many rhododendrons and azaleas Rose borders and mixed borders Jubilee arboretum Pinetum National heather collectionVisitor facilities include cafes and restaurant car parks plant centre etc Gallery edit nbsp Orchid in the glasshouse 2013 nbsp Spring Crocus In Flower January 2013 nbsp In one of the alpine houses at Wisley nbsp Old trials field at Wisley showing some of the hundreds of varieties assessed for the Award of Garden Merit nbsp The laboratory nbsp Quercus robur beside the laboratory nbsp The Butterfly Lovers Pavilion nbsp The Wisley Glasshouse nbsp Panorama from the top of the Rock Garden WisleyReferences edit a b ALVA Association of Leading Visitor Attractions www alva org uk Retrieved 23 October 2020 a b RHS 2017 Royal Horticultural Society Carol Klein opens RHS Garden Bridgewater accessed 21 July 2021 RHS 2017 History of Wisley garden Elliott Brent Experimental Gardening Wisley in the Nineteenth Century in Occasional Papers from the RHS Lindley Library volume 11 January 2014 PDF Retrieved 26 April 2021 RHS Garden Wisley Surrey c Open Garden at Gardens Guide com Retrieved 24 May 2016 a b c Brent Elliott The Royal Horticultural Society A History 1804 2004 Published by Phillimore amp Co Ltd ISBN 1 86077 272 2 Hanbury Sir Thomas 1832 1907 Knight Shanghai merchant and botanist Retrieved 24 May 2016 Desmond 1994 First turf cut Wisley Bicentennial Glass house opens for business Landscape Juice Retrieved 24 May 2016 Morgan Ben 7 June 2019 Take a first look at RHS Garden Wisley s 20 million revamp Evening Standard Retrieved 12 June 2019 Visitors map Explore our RHS Libraries in London and RHS Gardens Elliott Brent The British Rock Garden in the Twentieth Century in Occasional Papers from the RHS Lindley Library volume 6 May 2011 pp 3 9 PDF Bibliography editRHS 2017 RHS Garden Wisley Retrieved 3 January 2017 Desmond Ray 1994 1977 Dictionary of British and Irish botanists and horticulturalists including plant collectors flower painters and garden designers 2nd ed London Taylor amp Francis ISBN 9780850668438 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to RHS Wisley Official website 1987 Advertisement for Director Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title RHS Garden Wisley amp oldid 1177348103, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
