The Royal Horticultural Society has taken down a giant display of wisteria, upsetting garden enthusiasts.
The plant, known for its attractive, vibrant purple flowers, covered a wall of RHS Wisley’s Water Lily Pavilion and was one of its main attractions for decades.
However, visitors were shocked when they discovered that the 10-foot vine had been removed from the wall.
Members said the wisteria floribunda was becoming increasingly difficult to manage.
The RHS denied the move was caused by health and safety concerns, but instead said it was causing damage to the building it was attached to.
However, an RHS gardener told a visitor that a ‘cherry picker’ gadget which is used to help gardeners prune plant branches twice a year had been deemed ‘unsafe to operate’.
This was allegedly for fear that the machine might fall into the bank of the pond, return The Telegraph.
Garden enthusiasts are up in arms over the decision, with one telling the outlet: “I’ve always loved seeing the amazing wisteria.
“It looked spectacular when it was in flower. Removing it all seems a bit drastic to me.’
RHS Wisley, located in Woking, Surrey, charges adults £18.50 for a standard ticket for the gardens.
Chelsea’s gold medal-winning landscape gardener Bunny Guinness told the outlet that in the “old days” gardeners could just “jump up a ladder and get to it”.
However, she says that today, health and safety rules around gardening and pruning have changed, becoming stricter.
“It’s health and safety and it’s there for a reason. There are so many accidents involving ladders. It’s a shame, but that’s life,” he added.
Ms Guinness also believes the RHS should carry out a health and safety assessment “every time” they plan to do this type of work.
The RHS website says: “Wisteria needs regular pruning to keep its vigorous growth and overall size under control, but also to improve the flowering display.”
A mature wisteria plant can reach about 33ft in trees and spread up to 66ft against a wall and can be long.
The RHS has been contacted for comment.
