Student-led exhibition opens at RHS Garden Wisley

Students celebrate the opening of a brand-new exhibition at RHS Garden Wisley.

18 October 2023

Students from St John the Baptist school in Woking and King’s College in Guildford are celebrating the opening of a brand-new exhibition at RHS Garden Wisley.

The exhibition, titled ‘What is a weed?’, is the culmination of the children’s efforts to explore attitudes humans have towards plants. The opening of the exhibition marks the end of a three-month programme, called ‘Gardens of Imagination Young Curators’, which saw RHS Community Outreach, Lindley Library and the two schools collaborate together. The children received expert guidance from creative practitioner mentors Linden McMahon (they/them) and Ada Rose (she/they).

It is hoped that student’s interpretation of why we refer to some plants as weeds will stimulate curiosity and debate among RHS Garden Wisley’s visitors, at a time when the RHS is calling for a reduction in pesticides and inviting gardeners to accept a more diverse range of plants.

A teacher involved in the project said:

"The exhibition was absolutely phenomenal, we were honestly blown away by what the students had produced. Thank you, it was such a wonderful and unique opportunity."

You can come and experience the exhibition for yourself in The Old Laboratory in RHS Garden Wisley until it closes on Sunday 7 January 2024. Entry is included in price of garden tickets.

Gardens of Imagination is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund as part of the RHS Garden Wisley 'Inspiring People to Grow' project.