RHS committee member Val Bourne joins the debate on Wisley trial cuts

Vegetable trials are down from 9 to 6 as detailed in HW 29 January.

Bourne said: "As many will know the RHS has had a painful year. It has basically cut expenditure by 10% and this has already had an impact on the trials. Unfortunately, staffing on the Portsmouth Field at RHS Wisley [where most trials are held] was cut by significantly more than 10%.

"As a result the remaining gardeners and trials staff struggled with maintenance, planting and recording. Morale was further weakened by staff having to reapply for posts and not always the same one.

"As a result, many excellent gardeners and trials staff have been lost to the RHS because understandably many simply left or moved on. Instead of losing 80 posts the tally eventually reached 130.

"As a result 2010's trials are very depleted and my own committee [made up from horticultural experts across the board] will not meet together until June. We will be looking at approximately 4 or 5 perennial plant trials — far fewer than usual. Other committees are affected in similar ways.

"However, on a positive note I do believe the society has learnt from this painful and wasteful experience. I believe it is now aware of the depth of feeling regarding these particular cuts. After all, as a learned society with charitable status, the RHS's raison d'etre is to promote horticultural excellence. Plant trials and the AGM are at the heart of this. The information is of key importance to gardeners, growers and society members.

"The RHS has not always lauded the AGM enough and often information has been hard to access for journalists. It is now more committed to making this information available both in The Garden [the monthly journal] and elsewhere.

"On a personal level I have resolved to fight for the future of the trials by continuing to serve on the committee as I now have a insight into the process having given up lots of my time over 2 years. I also want the society to thrive and serve its committed members who [like me] often join for life."

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