A pub and prison host plant collections
Two new venues help with vital plant conservation
Apub and a prison are the first of their kind to be awarded National Plant Collection status by horticultural conservation charity Plant Heritage. The White Hart, a popular village pub in Bitton, Gloucestershire, and HMP Eastwood Park, a prison and young offender institution for women located north of Bristol, hold prize collections of Crocosmia cvs. and Tulbaghia respectively.
They are two of more than 700 National Plant Collections, usually found in gardens, greenhouses, allotments, arboretums, plant nurseries, botanic gardens, historic houses, zoos, and public parks across the UK and Ireland. Their aim is to ensure that different plant groups remain in cultivation for future generations to enjoy.
The White Hart’s Crocosmia collection boasts nearly 200 varieties, from rare cultivars such as ‘Zeal Remembrance’ to more common forms found in many gardens. Cared for by the pub’s owners Jemma Wiggins and her husband James Smith, the main collection is held in the beer garden, in pots and in borders. It is supported by a private courtyard holding more cultivars. Jemma said: “We’re over the moon that we’re the first pub in the UK to have a National Plant Collection. I love the bursts of colour the Crocosmia bring, and that the collection is accessible to everyone.”
HMP Eastwood Park’s collection of Tulbaghia is looked after by two prisoners helped by Gary Stone, HMP Eastwood Park’s Horticultural Craftsman. They have 11 different species of Tulbaghia, which are dotted around the prison garden in pots. The star-shaped flowers bloom in late summer and into early autumn, and bring a pretty range of whites, pinks and delicate purples into the garden. Gary said: “I always wanted to be the first UK prison to hold a National Plant Collection so I’m incredibly proud that together with our prisoners we have achieved this. The benefits of growing and caring for our Tulbaghia collection are endless; our prisoners learn about the plants, how to look after them, and take ownership of something that matters – which is something many have never experienced before.
He also thanked David and Penny Ross and Steve Hickman from Hoyland Plant Centre for their support in setting up the collection.