RHS Garden Wisley is under threat

Anyone who loves trees and the environment (and we know that many of you do) should sign this petition, although the junction of the A3 and the M25 does need to be improved:

sign the petition

We are worried that some potential Highways England plans could cause irreversible damage to Wisley in the future and hope you might help us to protect this very special and much loved place.

As you may be aware, plans are now being finalised to improve the M25 Junction 10 interchange and widen the A3, which is something we support in principle. One of the possibilities being considered by Highways England, in terms of widening the A3 only, could see over 10,000 sq. metres of RHS Garden Wisley grabbed and over 500 trees destroyed.

There are currently two options available to Highways England to widen the A3: one on the east side of the A3 and one on the west.

The RHS has carried out expert highway studies and is calling on the Government Agency to choose the east option, which does not grab woodland from the Garden, would not fell any of these 500 important trees, and would better improve road access to Wisley.

If Highways England decide that widening the west side is the preferred option then irreplaceable historic trees that are over 100 years old, and still have centuries more to live, could be eliminated for a short-sighted road improvement scheme, which would increase air pollution and noise pollution and destroy the habitats of a wide range of wildlife and the beauty of the garden.

Five trees that would potentially be lost are identified as threatened and endangered in cultivation by Plant Heritage’s Threatened Plants Project. Excellent specimens of giant redwood (Sequoiadendron giganteum, pictured below) would also be at risk.

We’re also concerned that some proposals for the A3 would involve additional travel for our visitors to get to Wisley, some adding over 6 kilometres to the journey, which is unacceptable. We need our garden to be as accessible as possible for everyone, especially with our major investment plans to make the garden better than ever before and to welcome more visitors. Therefore more direct access to and from the A3 to Wisley is vital and must also be a key consideration for Highways England as they consider their preferred option to safeguard to future of this very special place, which millions of people enjoy over the years.

If you are also worried about the potential destruction of these 500 beautiful trees and impact this will have on RHS Garden Wisley please show your support and sign our petition:

sign the petition

You could also write to the Rt Hon Chris Grayling MP, Secretary of State for Transport, Department for Transport, Great Minster House, 33 Horseferry Road, London, SW1P 4DR and voice your concerns. We have drafted a template letter for you in case that is helpful (click here for template letter), and please feel free to amend as you wish. If you would like to you could also write to your local paper or national newspapers.