• New Destinations include Brazil, Marrakech, Oregon, Austin and Charleston, USA
• Holiday Featuring New RHS Chatsworth Flower Show
• Unique Private Gardens of East Anglia and Private Gardens of Guernsey holidays

RHS Garden Holidays (020 3735 1855, rhsgardenholidays.com) the dedicated travel division of the Royal Horticultural Society, has today launched its brand new programme of holidays for 2017/8.

Featuring a total of 35 horticulture-themed holidays around the UK, Europe and worldwide, there are some fantastic new itineraries such as Marrakech and Flowers of the Atlas, visiting some of the exciting new gardens in Morocco including that of Tom Stuart-Smith;  Oregon – In the Footsteps of David Douglas holiday, following the route of this famous Scots botanist and Burle Marx Gardens of Rio & Brazil's Natural Wonders which includes exclusive visits to some of the private gardens designed by this celebrated Brazilian landscape architect.   

Closer to home are some unique new holidays such as The New RHS Chatsworth Flower Show and Private Gardens of Derbyshire where guests will be amongst the first to visit this exciting new RHS Flower Show; Private Gardens of East Anglia, which includes visits to a number of gardens not usually open to the public such as that of RHS President Sir Nicholas Bacon and Private Gardens of Guernsey and Sark where highlights include a personal tour of the Guernsey Clematis Nursery by owner Raymond Evison OBE, VMH – widely recognised as one of the country's leading authorities on this popular plant, as well as a number of private gardens. 

Commenting, Sue Biggs, Director General, RHS says 'We're delighted to introduce this inspiring collection of garden holidays, many of which are unique to the RHS.  At the RHS, we are committed to inspiring passion and excellence in gardening as well as raising awareness of the huge benefits that gardening can bring to people's health and wellbeing.   These holidays are the perfect way to put this into practise, with lots of fun along the way with likeminded travel companions.  As well as being truly inspirational, they could be described as the perfect  'wellness' holiday – I can't think of a more enjoyable way to lift your spirits and keep healthy than walking through the world's most beautiful gardens.  They also offer the chance to see how gardening is used in different parts of the world to help change lives and communities with visits to charitable gardening projects in South Africa, Marrakech and Sri Lanka and the Guernsey Prison garden. '    

The holidays have been created using the expertise of a variety of RHS staff, from curators, horticulturists and garden writers to the Advisory team and committee members.  Wherever possible, the holidays offer exclusive access, private openings and a welcome from the garden owner or curator.  They are operated in partnership with gardening holidays experts Brightwater Holidays.  All holidays are led by an experienced tour manager, and in addition, on certain departures, there will be an RHS host with expert horticultural knowledge.   These include Dr Tim Upson, RHS Director of Horticulture, who will host the Marrakech holiday; Garden Designer Paul Hervey-Brookes, who will host Villas & Gardens of the Italian Lakes and former RHS Garden Rosemoor and Chelsea Physic Garden Curator Chris Bailes, who will host the Architecture and Gardens of Andalucia holiday.

Countries featured in the brochure are France, Spain, Italy, Morocco, Switzerland, Australia, South Africa, America, Chile, Brazil, Sri Lanka, China and Japan.  There are also holidays to Guernsey and Sark, all around England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. From the elegant gardens of Florence and Tuscany to the fabulous wildflowers in the South African spring, and from the beautiful gardens of the British Isles, including the RHS Gardens at Wisley, Harlow Carr, Hyde Hall and Rosemoor, to the exciting new gardens in Morocco, there is plenty of choice.

Some highlights are as follows:

Marrakech and Flowers of the Atlas – Apr 19, Oct 12 2017 -  5 nights half board from £2595pp

Marrakech, best known for its riads and lively medina, is also home to some superb new gardens as well as the established classics.  This 6 day holiday is based at the beautiful Jnane Tamsa in the Palmeraie, the private garden of ethnobotanist Gary Martin and his wife Meryanne Loum-Martin.  It provides a peaceful base surrounded by aromatic herb gardens, olive groves and date palms. Gary, who has coordinated botanical and horticultural initiatives in Morocco for over 15 years, has helped put together an itinerary which draws out the best of the country.  Highlights include the new Le Jardin Secret, designed by Tom Stuart-Smith, and the Andre Heller garden.  There are also visits to Majorelle, the former home and garden of the French painter Jacques Majorelle, renovated by the late Yves Saint Laurent; the abandoned gardens of the 16th century Badi Palace; and the 19th century Bahia Palace. The formal gardens are complemented by a day in the High Atlas Mountains to explore Moroccan flora and important plant areas and there is also a visit to an inspirational charitable horticultural project which supports girls and young women from the Amazigh villages.    

Oregon – In the Footsteps of David Douglas Jun 8, 2017 - 12 nights from £5,595pp

The Douglas Fir is perhaps one of the best known trees in the British Isles.  It was brought to the UK by Scots botanist and 'plant seeker' David Douglas, who was sent by the RHS on a plant hunting expedition to the Pacific Northwest in the 1820s which led to the introduction of several notable species and transformed the appearance of the British landscape.  This 13 day holiday follows in his footsteps, starting in the elegant city of Portland with visits to selected private gardens and the Grand Floral Parade, part of the Portland Rose Festival.  It continues on the Pacific coast, travelling through the diverse landscape of Oregon, with visits to the Bob Straub State Park and in Darlingtonia State Park – home to the rare and carnivorous Darlingtonia californica.  After a visit to 'Oregon's Secret Garden', and a trip into the mountains on the trail of the Sugar Pine (Pinus lambertiana), the holiday concludes in the unparalleled scenery of the Columbia River Gorge, where there are majestic examples of Douglas firs.

Burle Marx Gardens of Rio & Brazil's Natural Wonders Sep 26, 2017 - 16 nights from £6,395pp

This once in a lifetime holiday starts in the vibrant city of Rio to explore the extensive legacy of renowned Brazilian designer, Roberto Burle Marx and discover a number of his public and private works, including the Copacabana beach front, his private estate and also some of his private gardens.   There are also visits to the Botanic Gardens which have over 6,ooo plant species, and the key sites of Sugar Loaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer.  From Rio, the holiday then travels to the charming heritage town of Paraty, and then onto Iguaçu, with a hotel adjacent to these awesome waterfalls, seven times the size of Niagara before concluding in the Pantanal region, the world's largest continuous wetland area for an exploration of trees and flora to an astonishing profusion of birds and aquatic wildlife.

Private Gardens of Guernsey & Sark Jun 1, Sep 21, 2017 – 4 nights half-board from £1,195pp

The island of Guernsey, just 20 miles off the coast of France, flourishes in the warmth of summer and is home to some wonderful private gardens.  This 5 day holiday includes several private gardens in St Peter Port, as well as the public Candie Gardens, a Victorian gem.  There are also visits to La Petite Vallée, with its range of traditional and exotic planting, botanising in the orchid meadows of the west coast and a visit to the inspiring garden at Guernsey Prison.  A highlight of this tour is a visit to Guernsey Clematis Nursery, where owner Raymond Evison – winner of some 28 Chelsea Gold Medals - will give an insight into his nursery and the development of new varieties of clematis.  Finally, onto the tranquil, traffic-free island of Sark, for a visit to the wonderful garden of La Seigneurie and wildflower meadows.

The RHS Chatsworth Flower Show and Gardens of Derbyshire Jun 9, 2017 - 3 nights half-board from £495pp

There could be few finer settings than Chatsworth House for the latest addition to the RHS flower show calendar, and guests on this holiday will be amongst the first to experience it. Set against the classic landscape shaped by Capability Brown and Joseph Paxton, the show aims to present the best in British design and innovation.   By contrast, the holiday will also include visits to some of the region's classic gardens including Felley Priory, with its beautiful herbaceous borders, old fashioned roses and white garden; Hardwick Hall known for its woodland, an orchard and romantic rambling roses and Haddon Hall, which although an ancient residence, has had areas of the garden redesigned in the past few years.  Finally, the holiday will conclude at RHS Garden Harlow Carr, on the outskirts of Harrogate, where the group will have a special tour.

Private gardens of East Anglia : May 2, Sept 13, 2017: 3 nights half board from £495pp

The adjoining counties of Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk feature on this tour of some of the finest gardens that East Anglia has to offer, many of which have connections to the RHS, making them just that little bit special.   Starting in Essex, with visits to RHS Garden Hyde Hall, which showcases a selection of different styles including rose and Mediterranean gardens and a new wildflower meadow, and then on to Beth Chatto's famous garden and nursery.  We continue to Helmingham Hall gardens, where the house, parkland and gardens together create an exceptional work of art. This is followed with a visit to Wyken Hall vineyards and gardens - the vineyard produces some 12,000 bottles a year, while the garden features a knot and herb garden, an old fashioned rose garden and an orchard. We will then have the privilege of visiting Raveningham Hall, the garden of RHS President Sir Nicholas Bacon Bt, along with East Ruston Old Vicarage, an inspirational exotic garden which lies less than two miles from the North Sea. Our final day takes us to The Place for Plants at East Bergholt Place, a fine nursery and garden owned by an RHS committee member, and Marks Hall Garden and Arboretum, whose extensive collection is planted on a geographical theme, with plants from the temperate regions of the world grouped together.

To book or for further information, please visit www.rhsgardenholidays.com or call 0203 735 1855

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For further media information, please contact: Sarah Bolam - sarahbolam2@rhs.org.uk or 07714 337756 

Notes to Editors:

About RHS Garden Holidays

RHS Garden Holidays offer a range of garden-themed escorted holidays and partner cruises around the world that combine the gardening-related passion and knowledge of the RHS with the experience of leading tour operators.  Partners for escorted tours are Brightwater Holidays in the UK and Ireland, Europe and Worldwide and a range of cruises in partnership with Voyages of Discovery and Swan Hellenic.   All holidays are escorted by an experienced tour manager and include international flights, transport, accommodation – generally in 4 star hotels - a welcome dinner and some additional meals.  Some departures also feature an RHS host for an added level of horticultural expertise. A contribution from every booking goes towards the charitable works of the RHS.  On all bookings, there is a promotion to purchase 12 months RHS membership for the price of nine.

About the RHS

The Royal Horticultural Society was founded in 1804 by Sir Joseph Banks and John Wedgwood for the encouragement and improvement of the science, art and practice of horticulture. We held our first flower shows in 1820, were granted a Royal Charter in 1861 and acquired RHS Garden Wisley in 1903. From our first meetings in a small room off London's Piccadilly, we have grown to become the world's largest gardening charity.

Today the RHS is committed to providing a voice for all gardeners. We are driven by a simple love of plants and a belief that gardeners make the world a better place. 200 years on we continue to safeguard and advance the science, art and practice of horticulture, creating displays that inspire people to garden. In all aspects of our work we help gardeners develop by sharing our knowledge of plants, gardens and the environment.

RHS membership is for anyone with an interest in gardening. Support the RHS and secure a healthy future for gardening. For more information call: 0845 130 4646, or visit www.rhs.org.uk/join

RHS Registered Charity No. 222879/SC038262