RHS to conduct winter damage survey

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is looking to establish how the cold 2008/09 winter affected the UKs gardens and greenhouses.

While global warming is giving the country milder summers, the particularly harsh weather experienced around the turn of the year may have disrupted some growers plans.

As such, the organisation is launching an online nationwide survey asking gardeners to share details of how one of the coldest winters in two decades impacted their green space and glasshouses.

The RHS noted many have begun taking advantage of the warm summers to try their hand at cultivating more exotic species, such as banana trees and palms.

It is especially interested in hearing from those horticulturalists who fall into this category.

Among the information sought is the name of the plant, how much damage it sustained and whether it was located against a wall, in the open or in a greenhouse.

Meanwhile, the RHS recently announced it is to build a carbon neutral learning centre and library at its Garden Harrogate site.