Visitors to Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) garden at Hyde Hall are now able to enjoy on-site EV charging following the installation of enhanced electric vehicle (EV) charging bays – part of a wider sustainability initiative to install 90 charge points across all five RHS gardens.
Located in the Essex countryside near Chelmsford, RHS Hyde Hall has introduced 16 EV charging bays, including both fast (up to 22kW) and rapid (up to 50kW) chargers.
Free charging is being offered to visitors during an initial launch period from Monday, February 9th to Sunday, February 15th.
To charge for free during the launch period, customers must sign up to RAW Rewards via the website: rawcharging.com/rewards.
This installation marks the first in a phased rollout of EV charging facilities at all RHS gardens, delivered in partnership with RAW Charging which provides destination charging for hospitality, leisure and retail locations across the UK and Europe.
The chargers are part of the RHS’s wider sustainability programme, supporting its goal to become climate positive by 2030. With more than a million EVs now on UK roads, demand for convenient, reliable charging has never been greater. RHS Hyde Hall’s charging bays offer a timely solution for the garden’s 400,000 plus annual visitors and 500-space car park.
Malcolm Anderson, Head of Sustainability at the RHS, said:
“This initiative aligns with our commitment to sustainability and enhancing the visitor experience. By installing 90 EV charging bays across our five iconic gardens, we are making it easier for our visitors to enjoy their time with us whilst reducing the carbon emissions associated with travel by private car. This complements our ongoing work on increasing accessibility to our gardens via active travel and public transport.”
Fast chargers are ideal for the average visit length to RHS Hyde Hall, which allows most EVs to fully charge in four to five hours – perfect for a day exploring the 365-acre garden. Rapid chargers provide added flexibility, offering a full charge in as little as one to two hours for those making a shorter stop. All chargers feature simple contactless payment options and can also be operated via a dedicated app.
Jason Simpson, CEO of RAW, added:
“At RAW Charging our focus is on connecting amazing places, and RHS gardens such as Hyde Hall are the perfect examples of amazing locations in need of reliable EV Charging solutions.
“Offering seamless EV charging is now a must for best-in-class heritage and leisure locations which need to provide sustainable, convenient and cost-effective charging options to the growing number of electric vehicles on the road today.
“RAW is committed to collaborating with the RHS to seamlessly integrate charging solutions for their members and visitors, ensuring every aspect of their journey is catered to, allowing them to enjoy their visit with the peace of mind that their charging needs are fully handled whilst they enjoy the beauty around them.”
The latest installation has come as part of RAW Charging’s Connecting Amazing Places campaign, which sees the brand installing chargers in a range of sites including those operated by the RHS, the National Trust and Merlin Entertainments such as Alton Towers and Chessington World of Adventure.
The installations make it easier for local residents and day-trippers to travel more sustainably – while also helping the RHS on its journey to becoming climate positive by 2030. It also follows the receipt of the Zapmap Best Network Award for 2026 and ICC Gold accreditation, awarded to RAW Charging in late 2025, cementing the business position as the EV charging partner of choice for the UK’s leading leisure, retail and hospitality destinations.
