The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), Britain’s leading gardening charity, has appointed cScape to upgrade its web platform – improving usability for Britain’s six million keen gardeners, and improving access to the extensive expert information provided online.
"We chose cScape to advise us on the redevelopment of our online information resources because of its reputation for technical and strategic consulting.
“The RHS aims to share information about plants with all gardeners; we are committed to providing the best possible service to our members," said Geoff Hodge, Online Editor, The Royal Horticultural Society.
cScape will advise the in-house RHS development team on the migration of the site’s content to Microsoft Content Management Server (MCMS), and on the implementation of powerful search facilities. The gardening charity plans to boost the RHS Plant Finder and Plant Selector services, which put gardeners in touch with specialist growers and suppliers.
The RHS Plant finder holds more than 70,000 plants, data compiled and updated annually from the catalogue of more than 720 nurseries – which users will have access to at the click of a mouse. The Plant Selector provides immediate access to descriptions, cultivation advice, photographs of plants and links to suppliers – allowing all gardeners to draw on RHS expertise in a practical way.
“cScape offers high levels of expertise in the application of MCMS and is well placed to guide RHS’s development team on how best to reach its vast online audience. We are a self-proclaimed nation of gardeners and the RHS website has to perform many different functions. It is a comprehensive source of gardening information; with facilities for buying plants, books and tickets for flower shows online too it answers the needs of all green-fingered Brits,” said Rob Killick, CEO, cScape.
*Britain’s appetite for gardening is big business - there are an estimated 6 million keen gardeners in the UK; RHS membership has grown by 80% in the past decade; the sector is now worth an enormous £100 million a week and 3 million people tune in regularly to TV gardening programmes.
www.rhs.org.uk is an extensive offering that showcases the RHS gardens, shows and thousands of events around the country, popular initiatives such as Britain in Bloom, and a wealth of horticultural advice and information. Members and non-members can shop online for products from plant seeds to tickets for flower shows – which sell out months in advance.
*Statistics presented at the RHS Debate 2005, which explored the notion that Britain is a nation of gardeners.
About the RHS
The RHS is the UK’s leading gardening charity dedicated to advancing horticulture and promoting good gardening. Its charitable work includes undertaking scientific research in to issues affecting gardeners, holding plant trials and educational events and activities.
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.
Reg charity no. 222879
Further information:
Megan Codling
Megafone Communications Ltd
megan@megafonecomms.co.uk
Mb 07795 848586