Another new National Collection

[lobman]

The old adage goes " If you want to keep a plant , give a bit away " , to which I would add , to someone who actually wants it , as in the past I have indeed given cuttings away and kept a record , however usually if a few years down the line I want a bit back , it has been lost or forgotten about by the recipient , or relabeled without the data .

[cactuspip]

Congrats on the new National Collection. What a great place to be growing too! (my wife is from the granite city)

[T_B]

How does the national collection system work in the UK? Is it overseen by the BCSS, or is a government thing linked with botanical gardens and other institutions?

The problem DaveW mentions is common to all collections and not just National Collections. At least Plant Heritage do monitoring and provide another network of contacts that may be able to help in a crisis. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, so each collection and its needs has to be assessed individually when re-locating.

This is a problem that's happening over here, as more and more members with established collections either pass away or go into care homes or similar where they can't have their plants. I'd be interested to know about that Plant Heritage that you mention, I don't think we have anything like that here. Have there been any attempts within the society itself to somehow guarantee collections after the owner has gone? We were thinking of something like that here, but I don't really know how it would work, especially since the society has limited resources.

[Paul D]

Plant Heritage website is here: http://www.nccpg.com. They are a non-governmental charity set up specifically to conserve cultivated plants.

[vbueno]

Congrats, Paul.
It's a great idea.
I'd like to see photos of your collection
How do you organize the cactus?
Do you include hybrids and cultivars or just pure species?
regards
Vicent

[ralphrmartin]

Always happy to do some more swaps when spring comes around - if you have any space left!

Ralph

[Carl]

Sheila Tucker has just been awarded National collection status for her Epiphyllum hybrids as well

I have just been awarded National Collection status for Epiphyllums by The Plant Heritage Plant Conservation Committee For the United Kingdom in recognition for my efforts to popularise these in the UK. My Collection now numbers over 700 named hybrids and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those enthusiasts in Europe, South Africa, New Zealand and the USA who helped me achieve this.

[Thord]

Hello Paul. I´m just wondering: as a holder of a National Collection do you recieve any kind of economical help from the Heritge, BCSS or any other place or do you have to pay for everything yourself? I can understand that holding such a collection is a source of pride and joy, but costly nevertheless. Regarding books:don´t you have or are using Gertel&Latins book on Sulco´s?