The HPS constitution includes a commitment to conserve lesser known hardy perennials, and in order to fulfil this commitment the Conservation scheme was formed. Its aims are to preserve older, rarer or lesser known plants and to maintain records so that the knowledge of how to grow these plants successfully is not lost and can be of use to HPS members and others.
Benefits to local groups and individuals
- A chance to learn more about specific plants by research and the practical propagation and growing on of specimens.
- A chance to grow and propagate plants from HPS members in all areas of the country.
- An interesting, challenging and fun group activity.
- The knowledge that something is being done to maintain the biodiversity of perennial plants.
- Access to information about ideal growing conditions and propagation methods for each plant, which is kept on a central database.
The aim is to have as many plants as possible in the scheme, growing in all parts of the country, to enable us to evaluate best growing conditions. Local groups organise their involvement in the scheme as best suits them, however there are some guidelines.
- Each group has a coordinator who will be contacted and kept up to date with Conservation news by the National coordinator. Also it is beneficial for the coordinator to attend the yearly plant exchange in October.
- Each group coordinator organises volunteer growers from their group members
- The growers need to complete a short form for each plant every year for 4years after which they may consider the plant as theirs.
- Each grower is asked to propagate their plants when possible, by cuttings or division, not seed, and share the resulting plants with other growers in the group.
- Any spare plants can be taken to the plant exchange, and other plants can be acquired from the exchange.
Sourcing of Plants
Groups may acquire plants from the plant exchange or provide their own. Plants need to have been propagated by cuttings or division not from seed, as seedlings may not come true. Plants need to have less than 4 entries in the RHS Plant Finder. Plants could be acquired from National Collection Holders, member’s gardens, specialist nurseries etc. All new plants to the scheme need to have a ‘Birth Certificate’ which is a descriptive form with flower colour, height etc recorded for the database. It is very important that every effort is made to have the correct name for each plant.
National Coordinator
I keep in touch with all the local group coordinators by sending newsletter type e-mails, the HPS Newsletter and the yearly plant exchange, which is also used for an exchange of ideas, and an opportunity to meet other coordinators. Of course any questions you may have about the scheme I will try to answer by e-mail or phone.
Ruth Sands, National Coordinator
Conservation in the North West
The North West group has 11 members at present. We meet formally once a year and informally at HPS meetings and other events. We actively participate in plant exchanges with other groups. New members are very welcome.
Sue Watson, Conservation Coordinator, NW Group
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Further Conservation Links
. BGCI (Botanic Gardens Conservation International)
. Botanical Gardens and Arboreta (Google Directory)
. BSBI (Botanical Society of the British Isles) Database of Threatened Plants
. Butterflies at record low after wet summer (Guardian, 24 April '08)
. CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora)
. Conservation International
. Extinct British and Irish Plants
. Growing Heritage Conference
. IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
. JNCC (Joint Nature Conservation Committee)
. LBAP (Lancashire's Biodiversity Action Plan)
. Met Office (Climate Change)
. Millennium Seed Bank Project
. Nature Watch
. NCCPG (National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens) & Demeter
. One in five British Species endangered (News item, 9 May '05)
. Online Bibliographic Tools for Botany
. Plantlife International
. Plantnetwork: The Plant Collections Network of Britain and Irelend
. Red List
. Red List (UK Vascular Plants)
. RHS Biodiversity in Gardens Conference December 2002
. RHS Water Conservation Advice
. Species-listing Wiki
. The UK Phenology Network (See also: Hepper, F. N. (1997) 'The flower monitor', The Garden (RHS), 1997, January, pp. 48-49.)
. Theft of Lady's Slipper Orchid, 2004
. UK Government Policy on GM Crops
. Wild about Gardens Discovery Survey 2006 (RHS/The Wildlife Trusts survey on mini-habitats to support wildlife)
. Wollemi Pine