240 Acres of Horticultural Excellence
RHS Garden Wisley is the flagship garden of the Royal Horticultural Society and one of the most visited gardens in the world. It began in 1878 as a private experimental garden established by George Fergusson Wilson, a businessman and keen amateur scientist, on 60 acres of poor sandy soil near Woking. Wilson wanted to prove that even difficult ground could be made productive. The RHS took it over in 1903 and has expanded the site to 240 acres, making it the Society's largest and most important garden.
The garden contains over 28,000 plant taxa across a range of environments: the Glasshouse (opened in 2007 by Lord Heseltine), the Rock Garden dating from the 1910s, formal borders, a fruit field, extensive trials grounds, and the Battleston Hill woodland. Wisley holds a National Collection of heathers and crocuses and serves as the primary trial ground for the RHS Award of Garden Merit.
The September Flower Show
The Wisley Flower Show in September is the highlight of the garden's events calendar. It showcases late-summer and early-autumn planting at its peak – dahlias, asters, grasses, and late-flowering perennials dominate the display gardens. Specialist nurseries set up trade stands, expert talks run throughout the week, and floral design competitions attract entries from across the country. The show has a more intimate, horticultural focus than the RHS's larger events at Hampton Court and Chelsea – it is a show for serious gardeners rather than a social event.
A Year-Round Destination
Wisley runs events throughout the year: the spring daffodil and tulip displays, the rose gardens in June, Glow Wisley (an illuminated winter trail), and regular workshops on everything from pruning to composting. The garden is open daily except Christmas Day. For Surrey residents, it is one of the county's great cultural assets – a place that rewards repeat visits in every season.
