THE CHELSEA PHYSIC GARDEN COMPANY
The Charity maintains and provides public access to and interpretation of a historic botanic garden. It provides formal and informal opportunities for all people to learn about plants, their use and their history.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity reported a net deficit of £316,495 for the year ended 31 December 2025, compared to a surplus in the prior year. Per the trustees' report, free reserves of £272,264 are within the recommended policy range of £200,000 to £300,000, and forecasts indicate the group will maintain liquidity for at least one year following the signing of the accounts.
What the accounts disclose
“£80,000 - £89,999 1 1” — page 31
“Income from letting rooms, external events in the Garden and commission on the café is £552,924 (2024: £590,644), which is 25% (2024 - 24%) of total income.” — page 11
“the recommendation in the reserves policy that free reserves of between £200,000 and £300,000 should be set aside for this purpose.” — page 11
“The charity's wholly owned subsidiary, CPG Enterprises Limited, was established on 20 December 1995 (company number 3140004). It is responsible for overseeing commercial activities, retail, catering, venue hire and any licensing for commercial purposes of the charity’s trademark.” — page 6
Year-over-year changes
- Reserves position vs the charity's own policy moved from "above" (FY2024) to "within" (FY2025).
Property (HM Land Registry)
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/12/2025)
Trustees
- Andrew Woodward
- Anna Villar do Valle
- Bernadette O'Sullivan
- David Richard Mathers
- Dr Helen Charman
- Dr Philippa Simpson
- Jennie Veronica Younger
- Lucinda Frances Clark
- Matthew George Pottage
- Professor Jane Anderson
- Sarah Elisabeth Flannigan
- Simon Major
- William Graham Victor Kenney
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/12/2025 | £2.2m | £2.6m |
| 31/12/2024 | £2.5m | £2.6m |
| 31/12/2023 | £2.6m | £2.5m |
| 31/12/2022 | £3.1m | £2.1m |
| 31/12/2021 | £3.6m | £1.7m |
Common questions
Is THE CHELSEA PHYSIC GARDEN COMPANY financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a net deficit of £316,495 for the year ended 31 December 2025, compared to a surplus in the prior year. Per the trustees' report, free reserves of £272,264 are within the recommended policy range of £200,000 to £300,000, and forecasts indicate the group will maintain liquidity for at least one year following the signing of the accounts. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Moore Kingston Smith LLP.
What does the highest-paid employee of THE CHELSEA PHYSIC GARDEN COMPANY earn?
Per its FY2025 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the £80,000 - £89,999 band.
Who funds THE CHELSEA PHYSIC GARDEN COMPANY?
Funders whose own accounts filings name THE CHELSEA PHYSIC GARDEN COMPANY as a grant recipient include THE JAMES & SHIRLEY SHERWOOD FOUNDATION, THE BAND TRUST, KUSUMA TRUST UK, JOHN SWIRE 1989 CHARITABLE TRUST, SIR ROBERT GEFFERY'S ALMSHOUSE TRUST.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount | Purpose (as stated by the funder) |
|---|---|---|---|
| THE JAMES & SHIRLEY SHERWOOD FOUNDATION | FY2024 | £25k | Provide details |
| THE JAMES & SHIRLEY SHERWOOD FOUNDATION | FY2023 | £25k | Support of Science |
| THE BAND TRUST | FY2022 | £20k | Specific grantee |
| THE JAMES & SHIRLEY SHERWOOD FOUNDATION | FY2025 | £18k | Not specified in table |
| KUSUMA TRUST UK | FY2023 | £12k | Partnership Projects at the Chelsea Physic Garden Company |
| JOHN SWIRE 1989 CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2023 | £10k | |
| SIR ROBERT GEFFERY'S ALMSHOUSE TRUST | FY2022 | £3k | Iron |
| JOHN SWIRE 1989 CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2021 | £1k |
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 06/02/2025 | £19k | Social and therapeutic horticulture at Chelsea Physic Garden |
| City Bridge Foundation | 14/05/2021 | £45k | Grant to Chelsea Physic Garden |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 27/11/2018 | £1.1m | "Chelsea Physic Garden Glasshouses Restoration: preserving London's botanical heritage for future discovery" |
| City Bridge Foundation | 20/09/2017 | £86k | Grant to Chelsea Physic Garden |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 11/01/2005 | £5k | "This Organisation Rpvides A Horticultural Resource To London. It Provides A Living Archive Of The Plants Which Have Transformed Cities Over" |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 21/12/2004 | £5k | Sloane's Waistcoat |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 04/12/2000 | £50k | "Cool Fernery at Chelsea Physic Garden" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 14/02/2000 | £13k | "1773 Rock Garden Restoration, Chelsea" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 08/11/1995 | £100k | "Chelsea Physic Garden, Chelsea, London" |