‘People complain about anything popular’: the RHS boss taking on traffic jams and Chelsea critics

Exclusive: Clare Matterson, the head of the Royal Horticultural Society, talks about the charity’s £2.3m roadworks compensation, community gardening and her high hopes for Andy Burnham

The government has awarded £2.3m in compensation to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) after roadworks affecting its premier garden in Wisley caused a “three-year traffic jam”.

The horticulture charity estimated it lost £13m due to disruption caused by the upgrade to the A3 and M25, with visits to the garden each year cut by 350,000. A campaign to reimburse the charity was led by the gardener and TV presenter Alan Titchmarsh.