"Alan Titchmarsh pleads for monetary compensation for the prestigious horticultural charity RHS Wisley, feeling that their efforts are largely disregarded and unappreciated in society"
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is facing financial losses of up to £11 million due to the ongoing M25 junction 10 project, which started in the summer of 2022. According to reports, the project, conducted by National Highways, has led to a decrease of 25% in annual visitors to the RHS garden, resulting in a loss of 350,000 visitors since the project commenced.
The disruption from the project has been constant since 2022, with road closures, such as the recent A3 closure near the junction in early August, causing further inconvenience. However, as of August 2025, there is no evidence that compensation has been made or announced by the government to RHS Wisley for losses associated with the M25 Junction 10 works or related visitor impact.
The M25 junction 10 project aims to reduce congestion, create a smoother traffic flow, and provide safer journeys for thousands daily. Environmental improvements are also planned, including the restoration of heathland around junction 10 and the planting of new trees and woodland in other areas. National Highways claims to be part of these environmental improvements, but no specific details about the trees to be planted, their planting time, or maintenance are provided.
RHS vice-president Alan Titchmarsh is spearheading a campaign for Government compensation, citing the potential loss of vital science, community, and education initiatives at RHS Wisley. Annunciata Elwes, director of contemporary art gallery TIN MAN ART and an award-winning journalist specializing in art, culture, and property, is also advocating for the RHS. Before her current role, Annunciata was News & Property Editor at our platform and worked at The Sunday Times Travel Magazine, researched for a historical biographer, and co-founded a literary, art, and music festival in Oxfordshire. Annunciata, who is Lancashire-born and currently lives in Hampshire with her husband, two daughters, and a mischievous pug, focuses her work on houses, Nature, and how to get the most from life.
The project is expected to be completed in summer 2025. If the lost funds were used, the RHS could have created 15 NHS wellbeing gardens, brought gardening and Nature to hundreds more schools and communities across the UK, funded 110 horticultural apprenticeships, or 38 science PhD students to find Nature-based solutions to help pollution, flooding, and the biodiversity and climate crises.
As the M25 junction 10 project continues, the RHS is still hopeful for government compensation to help mitigate their financial losses and continue their vital work in promoting horticulture and environmental conservation.
[1] Sources: Google Search Results for M25 Junction 10 compensation (Accessed August 2025)
The ongoing M25 junction 10 project has caused a significant drop in annual visitors to RHS gardens, leading to a financial loss of up to £11 million for the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). Recent garden statistics show a 25% decrease in visitors since the project began in 2022, resulting in a loss of 350,000 visitors.
Annunciata Elwes, a supporter of RHS, emphasizes the potential loss of various significant initiatives, such as the creation of NHS wellbeing gardens, increased access to gardening and Nature in schools and communities, funded horticultural apprenticeships, and science PhD students focused on Nature-based solutions for environmental crises.
