TV presenter Alan Titchmarsh CBE has demanded that the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) be compensated for losses during the A3/M25 roadworks.

The charity has lost £6m as a result of the roadworks with 350,000 fewer people visiting RHS Garden Wisley annually, says the BBC.

RHS vice president Titchmarsh called for government intervention and said the losses were “catastrophic not only for the RHS, but for the whole of the UK”.

National Highways regional delivery director, Chris Welby-Everard told the BBC: “We are continuing to engage with RHS Wisley on their concerns.”

The RHS said its losses will rise to £11m when the roadworks end in 2026.

Due to financial losses, the charity said it is delaying the development of new arboretums, the planting of 4,000 trees to investigate climate resilience for the next century and reducing funding for scientific research.

It also said it was cutting back on community outreach work and considering taking on 10% fewer work-based student horticulturists over the next two years.

National Highways said the £317m project would “reduce congestion, improve safety, and bring economic and environmental benefits to the local community”.

The project aims to restore heathland and upgrade junction 10 with the A3 Wisley Interchange.