Village Gardeners
Alison Davis, from the Cambridge Branch of the National Council for the
Conservation of Plants and Gardens (the NCCPG) gave us a very interesting talk
on many of the national plant collections in East Anglia.
There are 600 National Collections, from believe it or not, Teasels to Rhubarb!
The NCCPG was set up ion the 1970's when it was realised by the RHS that many plants were being lost, simply because nursery men were not growing them.
There are now county groups, supported from Wisley, who accept plant collections as National Reference Collections.
East Anglia has an amazing number, from the eleven held at the Botanic Gardens
in Cambridge, to the Lavender Collection, held by Norfolk Pakender - Alchemilas
in Cambridge, Artemisias in Elsworth, Aquilegias in Fen Ditton, Begonias in
Cambridge, Campanulas in West Wratting, Clematis in Norfolk, colchicums at
Felbrigg (where? Ed), Daphnes in Shelford, Fritillaria in Cambridge and
Hyacinths in Waterbeach, Lilacs near Ipswich, Mathis (Crab Apples) at Hyde End,
Saxiphrages and Tulips in Cambridge, Viburnams, Walnut trees at Wimpole and
Yuccas at Burwell.
We were all amazed what out region had to offer.
All collections can be visited , which is one of the conditions of the RHS, and a list of the National Plant Collections is available from the NCCPG at Wisley for £5.00.
Village Gardeners are now taking to the road for the summer. On Tuesday, 24th May we are visiting Hemingford Grey House - please meet at the Village Hall at 6.15pm - all welcome.
We are visiting Newnham College garden in June and WISLEY on Saturday, 16th July - again all welcome. Contact Roger Connan, or Margaret Joyce, if you'd like to join us.