The newly opened Greener Skills Garden (see The Landscaper, November/December 2025) at RHS Garden Wisley has a strong personal significance for the garden designer Dave Green, writes Gillian Taylor.
As a career changer himself, his gardening journey started in 2006, with evening classes. After working with the RHS for ten years, he founded his own design practice.
Dave sees the garden as a platform to inspire people to join the world of horticulture, providing opportunities for practical hands-on experience. Theoretical courses alone do not allow students to see if they will enjoy ‘real’ gardening.
Vocational training has sadly taken a back seat in many formal education establishments. He is keen to help to make it easier to enter our industry.
The physicality of the work is a key part of most jobs in the sector, and the Growing Skills section will provide access to this. Acting as an outdoor classroom, school groups and career-changing adults will be able to practise digging, planting, taking cuttings and turning compost in a safe environment. They will learn the latest horticultural techniques including plant selection, care and seasonal garden design.
The garden looks rather bare currently but the intention is that all planting will be performed under the guidance of the New Shoots team by the students over the next three years. Long term planting schemes will be augmented with colourful seasonal displays.
The garden is self-sustaining using solar panels to provide electricity, rainwater harvesting techniques and a compost toilet – echoing the gold medal-winning RHS Chelsea Garden of the Future.
Visitors to RHS Garden Wisley will be able to observe the progression of the planting and see information boards explaining how to garden in a planet-friendly manner. Topics discussed include moving away from use of plastic, rain gardens and increasing biodiversity.
The desire is to develop similar spaces in the other RHS gardens so that many more budding horticulturists will have access.
Dave said, “When you are passionate about horticulture and gardening, you want everyone to enjoy it as much as you do,” Dave said. The RHS hopes these Greener Skills Gardens will achieve this aim.
Photo credits : RHS Garden – Lee Charlton
Dave Green – Paul Wilkinson Photography Ltd
www.davegreen.co.uk
www.rhs.org/education-learning/greener- skills-garden