RHS HAMPTON Court flower show has been postponed until September – but at the expense of the RHS Wisley show, the Royal Horticultural Society confirmed this week.

The society made the changes to its events programme “to continue trying to support British nurseries and bring some of the charity’s much-loved gardening shows to its members and wider public this year”.

As a consequence, the 2020 RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival has been moved from July 22 to 26 to September 10 to 15, and the 2020 RHS Wisley Flower Show (scheduled for September 8 to 13) will be cancelled this year.

Sue Biggs, RHS director general, said: “We are sorry to cancel our very special Wisley Flower Show, but with moving the Hampton dates, it does not make sense to hold two flower shows, in such close in proximity, so close in time.

“We hope the joy of returning to Wisley in summer will be reason enough for our much-valued members and visitors to come and see us again.”

Everyone who has bought a ticket to the affected shows will be offered later show dates, refunds and other options “to show their support”.