New National Collections...

Nine collections around the UK have been awarded National Plant Collection status, steering charity Plant Heritage has announced. The nine include aloe, gasteria and epiphyllum collections in Derbyshire, agapanthus in Gloucestershire, Harvington hybrid hellebores in Worcestershire, nerines on the island of Guernsey, hollies, box and francoa (perennial bridal wreath) in Hampshire and Welsh varieties of apple.

The Harvington hybrid collection at Webbs Garden Centre honours local hellebore breeders Hugh and Liz Nunn, who started producing new forms 20 years ago, naming varieties after the village where they lived. The collection of all known Welsh dessert, culinary and cider apple varieties is based at the National Botanic Garden of Wales in Carmarthenshire.