Isle of Wight garden attraction to see funding cut
17:33 20th December 2010
Isle of Wight garden attraction to see funding cut
The Isle of Wight's renowned Ventnor Botanic Garden may be home to one of the UK's largest collections of southern hemisphere plants, but that has not stopped its funding from being withdrawn.
According to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), the local council is responsible for all £500,000 worth of funding the site receives each year.
However, councillors voted unanimously to scrap what they described as "unsustainable" funding amid the need for budget cuts across the board.
About 4,000 people have signed up to an online campaign urging the local authority to cut senior management jobs within its own organisation instead.
The garden's Grade II status should give it some protection, but it is believed that some of its specialist staff could be let go, potentially risking the collection's health and future.
Meanwhile, the RHS has supported Defra's plans to consult on the banning of the use of peat in gardening by 2020.The Isle of Wight's renowned Ventnor Botanic Garden may be home to one of the UK's largest collections of southern hemisphere plants, but that has not stopped its funding from being withdrawn.
According to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), the local council is responsible for all £500,000 worth of funding the site receives each year.
However, councillors voted unanimously to scrap what they described as "unsustainable" funding amid the need for budget cuts across the board.
About 4,000 people have signed up to an online campaign urging the local authority to cut senior management jobs within its own organisation instead.
The garden's Grade II status should give it some protection, but it is believed that some of its specialist staff could be let go, potentially risking the collection's health and future.
Meanwhile, the RHS has supported Defra's plans to consult on the banning of the use of peat in gardening by 2020.
