National Plant Collections have a membership scheme costing £25 p.a. They now have 650 collections in private gardens, allotments, nurseries, parks and botanic gardens throughout the country.

Collection holders undertake to document, develop and preserve a comprehensive collection of one group of plants in trust for the future.

A Heuchera collection is now at The University of Essex in Colchester. I couldn’t track down a national collection of Alstroemeria (above) but that must be an opportunity for someone.

‘The National Plant Collections Scheme is the flagship of Plant Heritage and is the prime mechanism for ensuring the survival of cultivated plant species and cultivars. Because of the involvement of botanic gardens, universities and expert horticulturists (both amateur and professional alike), the National Plant Collections Scheme has earned the respect of the horticultural world. This prestige helps the NCCPG as a whole. Reputation is important. It follows that prospective collections and their holders need to be carefully assessed, and existing collections properly monitored to maintain the standard of custodianship.’

Listings of Open Days appear in the National Collections Directory.

The Natural History and Gardening Book fair is at Caple Manor Gardens . I will try add to my collection of circa 500 books at the next fair. For more information on book fairs.