Anyone going to Chelsea this year?

The transatlantic slave trade ended in 1808 tho it is arguable that conditions didn't improve much for the US cotton pickers after slavery ended.

The Lancashire cotton mills were built on cheap cotton imported from the USA and went into decline when Gandhi started his movement against British rule and persudaded Indians to weave and make their own cotton instead of importing it. He visited the Lancashire cotton mills in Darwen in 1931 and was sympathetic to the workers' plight, but not the owners', and insisted it was even worse for workers in India under British rule.

The depression didn't help and then post war competition from synthetic fibres put more nails in the coffin.

 

Doesn't make it a charity in my eyes. I'd say more a club where members get "perks" than a good cause.

UPDATE: Just saw him advertising a machine where you can pull your own stella pints at home last night.
Looks like a teasmade for beer

 

It does a lot of charitable work in the community and schools @Jungle Jane

Community projects | RHS / RHS
School gardening resources / RHS Gardening
Mental health and wellbeing – How gardening can help / RHS Gardening

as well as funding scientific research into plants and how to care for them from pests and diseases to best horticultural practice for healthier plants and gardens. It also trains new gardeners to high standards and it promotes gardening ecologically for both soil and wildlife.

 

Well we survived got home around 9:30. As we have our travel passes it only cost us £6 for the station car park.
I think the half day was enough for us, though the last hour seemed to disappear somewhere. The crowds certainly dispersed from 5:30-6 much quieter after that.
A few pics to be getting on with.

 

Oh, wow! You managed to get quite close then? And the weather looks to have been kind - warm, but not blazing sunshine.

Personally, I would have stood well back from the exhibit in your last photo ... just in case!

 

Lovely photos @Allotment Boy, interesting to see the gardens from the public's perspective.

I agree with @ViewAhead 's comment. That last photo gives me the heebie jeebies .

 

Thank you for showing us your great photos @Allotment Boy. I'm glad you had a good time. Thanks also for the tip about going for the half day. We are thinking about that for next year.

 

Did watch ‘Chelsea’ for the first time this week as we’ve had a break down Cornwall. Thought Rachel and Monty were a good team , nice to have a change of presenters now and then , but Carol always shines with her spot. Thanks for posting your pics @Allotment Boy .

 

Its funny that I had actually forgotten that the RHS does actually do scientific research on plants.

I was a member of the RHS for a couple of years and its funny that their members magazine never really mentioned much on the scientific research side of things, it seemed more interested in promoting their gardens and events than really telling me what the RHS was really doing as a charity, especially the research side of things.

As for them being a charity for mental health and well being. That link you provided, one pages goes to a link about Mental well being book you have to buy for only £16.99

Their well being gardens are RHS partner gardens which are "free to RHS members". What about the countless who have mental health problems that are not RHS members who need spaces like this and cannot afford membership. Where do they go to?

Also I know of at least one community group connected with mind how were denied funds from the RHS.

They were connected to the charity Mind and were told to get their money from Mind themselves instead. In the end they ended up doing work for local garden owners to raise funds.

As for training new gardeners to high standards, yep, you've got to pay for that too. I have flirted with the idea on and off for the past 20 odd years of getting a RHS qualification and there's always been a hefty charge for it, despite your background.

 

Yes, we went straight for the show gardens even though they were busy. Everyone was polite, and we all got a turn. It's definitely different seeing the gardens for real even though you get the biggest overall view on TV.
Interesting on the half day, did we see everything, NO, not possible, did we see all we wanted to definitely YES. You do need to concentrate on what you want to do though , as I said before the last hour disappeared somewhere they were suddenly announcing the close of the show in 30 minutes.

 

@Jungle Jane I meant the onsite gardeners in their gardens, not the remote learning courses which, of course, have to be paid for but will lead to better jobs and pay for any professional or wannabe gardener.

Mind is its own charity. The RHS has deliberately employed a mental well-being co-ordinator and invited local participation. No idea if it's payable but is probably available on prescription now.

As for sceince, there are new, modern laboratories at Wisley and, if you read the magazine thoroughly, always some news but, more importantly, every member has free access to both scientists and plant experts if they have a problem or question.

 

@Allotment Boy I wasn't going to go this year (have only been twice - once about 25 years ago and then in 2023) but you've persuaded me to try the half day ticket option so I'm setting off after lunch

 

I hope you enjoy it. You have a warmer day than we did.

 

Thanks for the photos @Allotment Boy.

Have to say I never had problems getting to the front to take several photos of each garden - overall views plus close ups of plant combos. It just takes a bit of patience and everyone getting their turn. I would be done by 3:30 when the half day visitors poured in and would then also miss the rush hour on the tube.

Staying late sounds good tho and would bring different and interesting light levels.