Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle
Helena Horton

‘People complain about anything popular’: the RHS boss taking on traffic jams and Chelsea critics

A 63-year-old woman standing by a rustic gate in an English garden under a blue sky
Clare Matterson, the director general of the Royal Horticultural Society, which has won £2.3m payout from the government following disruptive roadworks on the way to its flagship garden. Photograph: Joshua Bright/The Guardian

The government has awarded £2.3m in compensation to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) after roadworks affecting its premier garden in Wisley caused a “three-year traffic jam”.

The horticulture charity estimated it lost £13m due to disruption caused by the upgrade to the A3 and M25, with visits to the garden each year cut by 350,000. A campaign to reimburse the charity was led by the gardener and TV presenter Alan Titchmarsh.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.