The Royal Horticultural Society is today launching a brand new collection of specially created garden themed holidays for 2016-17.  Developed in partnership with garden tour experts Brightwater Holidays, the programme features 26 escorted tours to destinations around the globe including Italy, France, Spain, Portugal and the Azores, Sweden, South Africa, Japan, New Zealand, Chile and Sri Lanka, as well as the UK and Ireland.

Across the programme, there are itineraries designed for all garden enthusiasts with a range of horticultural content and style of tour. Choose from gentle, classic tours such as Villas and Gardens of the Italian Lakes or the Gardens of Devon and Cornwall; to the more off the beaten track tours such as Chile: A Botanical Adventure  or Gardens and Wildflowers of South Africa's Western Cape or specialist tours such as The Landscape Gardens of Capability Brown–  specially created  to mark this influential garden designer's tricentenary. 

Itineraries showcase horticulture in its widest sense encompassing private, botanic and historic gardens, wild landscapes and national parks as well as vineyards, nurseries and charitable gardening projects. Wherever possible, exclusive access has been secured as well as private openings and a welcome from the garden owner or curator.  These include an exclusive visit to the private garden of the President of the Italian Camellia Society, home to a collection of over 500 plants near Lake Maggiore; an exclusive guided tour at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens in South Africa and a guided tour with the owner of Plessis Sasnieres in the Loire Valley.

The timing of each tour has been carefully planned to ensure that destinations can be enjoyed when looking their best. The South Africa tour, for example, is timed to coincide with the incredible array of wildflowers in spring time, whilst the visits to the French Riviera will include the Menton Lemon Festival in February and the International Rose Festival in Grasse in May.

All the holidays will be led by experienced tour managers and in addition, on certain overseas departures, there will be an RHS host with expert horticultural knowledge.  The  hosts are drawn from across the RHS and include horticulturalists, botanists, gardening journalists and RHS committee members. For some, it is a chance to share the gardens of their homelands while for others it is a chance to return to countries they have studied, worked in or visited many times before. Whatever their background, they are all knowledgeable and passionate about bringing the gardens to life.

Commenting, Sue Biggs, Director General, RHS, says. 'We are delighted to present this unique, new collection of holidays, which draw on the expertise of RHS staff, Committee members, curators and gardeners as well as our advisory and science teams.  Working with the experts at Brightwater Holidays we have created a collection of exciting garden holidays showcasing each destination through its horticulture, in the widest sense of the word.  From Carl Linnaeus' research garden in Uppsala to Lady Walton's garden on the island of Ischia and Beverly McConnell's Ayrlies Garden in New Zealand, we want to celebrate inspirational and pioneering gardens and horticulturists who changed the face of gardening through their personal vision and determination.' 

Highlights of the itineraries are as follows:

Gardens of the French Riviera:

5 nights from £1,175pp, departing Feb 18, 25 and May 5 2016.

Visit a range of private and public gardens including the Clos du Peyronnet in Menton, the Fondation Ephrussi de Rothschild at St Jean Cap Ferrat with a trip over the border into Italy to the superb Hanbury Gardens.

Sweden and Gotland: The Legacy of Carl Linnaeus: 

9 nights from £2295pp, departing June 7 2016

Inspired by the legacy of Carl Linnaeus, this tour visits his garden and estate in and around Uppsala before travelling to the lakes and gardens in southern Sweden and the wildflowers and seascapes of the Baltic island of Gotland.

Gardens and Wildflowers of South Africa's Western Cape:

15 nights from £4295pp, departing August 25and September 11 2016

A superb tour at a time when the wildflowers should be putting on a dazzling spring display.   The itinerary includes an exclusive guided tour of Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, a visit to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, visits to local flower shows on the Western Cape, as well as a trip to Karoo National Botanical Gardens, and Hermanus.

Chile: A Botanical Adventure

16 nights from £6225pp, departing January 10 2017

This grand botanical adventure encompasses a variety of landscapes, with Chile often being described as a bio-geographical island, owing to its unique flora.  Starting in Santiago, it travels on to the coastal reserve of Los Molles and the last remaining coastal forests at Quebrada del Tigre.  Several nights are spent in the higher altitudes of Parque Andino Juncal, before travelling to the Lakeland area of Chile and the trip concludes with a few days at the Torres del Paine National Park. 

The Landscape Gardens of Capability Brown

Three nights from £495pp, departing April 19, June 24, Sept 30 2016

Lancelot 'Capability' Brown changed the face of 18th century England, designing country estates and mansions, moving hills and creating lakes.  To mark his tricentenary, this bespoke tour has been specially developed, visiting some of his most striking landscapes and parklands including Compton Verney, Ragley Hall, Bowood House and Stowe.

The Legacy of Gertrude Jekyll

Six nights from £965pp, departures on May 29 and June 2016

Gertrude Jekyll was a plants woman extraordinaire, painter and writer, but she was perhaps best known for her association with the architect Sir Edwin Lutyens. This tour explores a number of gardens which demonstrate the duo's remarkable legacy, including Buckhurst Park and Gravetye Manor, Upton Grey and Heale House, as well as a rare chance to visit Munstead Wood, Jekyll's home for almost 40 years.

For full details of the tours, please refer to the brochure, log onto www.rhsgardenholidays.com or visit RHS Garden Holidays at the RHS Stand at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show from 30 June – 5th July 2015.

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 tours 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, Wendy Wu Tours in China and a range of cruises in partnership with Voyages of Discovery and Swan Hellenic.

All tours are escorted by an experienced tour manager and include international flights, transport accommodation and some meals.

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