Our science strategy

Our science strategy

Anew three-year science strategy aims to keep the RHS at the forefront of gardening research. We have identified five new environmental programmes to achieve this.

1. Encouraging biodiversity in gardens

The RHS regards gardens as being of increasing importance as havens for wildlife and intends to help gardeners maximise the biodiversity benefits of their gardens.

2. Gardening in a changing climate

The RHS recognises garden plants and the pests and diseases that attack them will all be affected by climate change, and intends to help gardeners by advising them on how to cope.

3. Conserving the genetic diversity of cultivated plants

The RHS believes that plants with characteristics that are likely to aid sustainability in the future, for example drought tolerance or disease resistance, should be conserved for future generations and intends to work with others to facilitate this.

4. Managing resource use in gardens

The RHS recognises that careful stewardship of resources like energy, water and land will become increasingly important with a growing population and changing climate and the RHS will manage its gardens and tailor its advisory functions appropriately.

5. Advancing plants and gardens for urban sustainability

The RHS believes that there are significant benefits to be derived from the presence of plants and gardens in urban environments, particularly as our changing climate is likely to make urban areas increasingly inhospitable.

More on the science strategy