November 13th 2020
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is delighted to announce the receipt of a £1.8M gift from retired Hong Kong businessman and philanthropist Dr Lee Kai Hung DL to RHS Garden Bridgewater.
The generous donation comes as the charity begins the 6 month countdown to the grand opening of the garden on 11th May 2021.
Representing the largest single gift from an individual to RHS Garden Bridgewater, the funds will go towards the horticultural and landscape development of the garden, as well as promoting the art, heritage and culture of Chinese gardening within the local community and beyond.
Thanks to this transformative gift and to its many generous supporters the RHS now has only £1.2M remaining to raise before opening.
In particular the donation will support the development of the Chinese Streamside Garden at RHS Garden Bridgewater, a key feature of the 154 acre garden.
In a first of its kind programme for the RHS, the Chinese Streamside Garden has been designed in a horticultural knowledge exchange with experts from the China Flower Association.
RHS Director General Sue Biggs said: “This incredible and inspirational gift from Dr Lee not only enables the RHS to develop a unique fusion of British and Chinese horticulture and people within RHS Garden Bridgewater, but so much more besides. As part of our commitment to engage with our local community at every level, these vital funds will also be used to recruit additional staff to help achieve this aim. We are enormously grateful to Dr Lee for his generosity and vision in helping us create this horticultural legacy for all the people of Greater Manchester and beyond.”
Dr Lee Kai Hung said: “It has been my lifelong passion to bring together the people of UK and China through cultural exchange and to promote mutual understanding. What better way than through this spectacular project, where a classical Chinese garden will blend perfectly with the beautiful surroundings of the master plan that is RHS Garden Bridgewater.”
Source: RHS Press Release
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