Gardens
A generalist writes
Ursula Buchan
Mercifully, for the state of our gardens and the salvation of unusual and rare gar- den plants in particular, there are plenty of people who can. The specialist gardener is alive and well, growing every known species and cultivar of Mandelsonia in the back garden of a suburban bungalow, in the cold frames of an 'unusual plant' nursery at the end of a country lane, in the temperate glasshouse of a botanic garden in the city centre, or in the flower borders belonging to a country house. Some of these special- ists are holders of National Plant Collec- tions for the National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens, which this year celebrates 21 years in existence.
The NCCPG (with the emphasis firmly on the conservation of plants rather than gardens) was founded in 1978 as a response to general alarm at the accelerating disap- pearance of garden plant varieties. These had been ousted by newer varieties, rav- aged by disease or had simply slumped out of fashion. The importance of conserving gene pool diversity pressed in on gardener and botanist alike, and the NCCPG was the result. As its mission statement says: `Through volunteer membership, the NCCPG seeks to conserve, document, pro- mote and make available Britain's great biodiversity of garden plants for the benefit of horticulture, education and science.' The year after its foundation, the first National Plant Collections were established.
The demands made on holders, nearly half of whom are private individuals, are substantial. This is an occupation for the single-minded enthusiast with a botanical bent, or 'nutter' as they are inclined to refer to themselves. The collection may be of an entire genus (although it is often only a discrete element of one); it must be open to visitors, by appointment or on specified open days; careful records have to be kept, and correspondence with scientific institu- tions and interested individuals dealt with. There are 500 collections, with 120 dupli- cates, to minimise the impact of disease or other disaster, and for the exchange of information and propagating material. From time to time, a collection has to move home, as holders grow weary of the task, or die.
This scheme was not without critics at first, and has had inevitable teething trou- bles. In 1996, a reappraisal, which included the enforcement of the rigorous criteria for managing a collection, was set in train. Since then, more that 10 per cent of hold- ers have stood down. The biggest losses have been among collections held by horti- cultural colleges and local authority parks departments, both affected by changes in funding in the last decade. This reappraisal is ongoing, but the number lost in 1998 was half that of the year before.
The organisation of the NCCPG is decentralised, consisting, as it does, of 41 county-based, semi-autonomous groups in mainland Britain, which raise money for themselves (and the national headquarters at the RHS Gardens at Wisley) through lectures, outings and rare-plant sales. Their pooled expertise is formidable, and any keen gardener, generalist or specialist, should derive pleasure from membership:— Groups set up stands at major flower shows and exhibitions; indeed, there is an entire Plant Heritage Marquee filled with NCCPG'exhibits at Hampton Court Flower Show each July.
Lately, the Council has been very active in advising similar groups abroad. Ireland, France, the United States and Australia now have organisations strongly influenced by the British model, and schemes are being developed elsewhere in Europe. Nothing shows the idea's value more clear- ly than the ease with which it has been exported.
For some years, the NCCPG has pro- duced an annual directory of the National Collections; the 1999 special anniversary edition is just published. Included is the `Pink Sheet', a list, annually updated by the NCCPG, of rare and endangered garden plants, which are known of, but which may not have been seen for many years. Some of these are blushing unseen in private gar- dens, perhaps even in yours or mine. Where are you, Iris barbata 'Ruby Perry', Is he our forever publicity agent?' Phlox paniculata `Otley Mauve', and Tanacetum coccineum 'Avalanche'? Your country gardens need you.
The 1999 Directory is available from the NCCPG, The Stable Courtyard, RHS Gar- dens, Wisley, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QP, price £5.95 (including p& p)
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