What does NCCPG stand for

A.� NCCPG stands for the National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens.

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A.� The NCCPG was set up in 1978 with the expressed intention of saving plants grown in gardens in danger of extinction. This has now been extended to include common plants as well and there are now some 650 collections under their jurisdiction.

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The NCCPG now has 41 regional groups who meet, hold talks and lecturers and help in the establishment and maintenance of collections.

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A.� Not at all. The holders of national collections vary from local authorities, grand country estates, nurseries and enthusiastic amateurs. For instance, Prince Charles boasts the national collection of beech, a famous Kent nursery holds the national collection of lavenders and the national collection of Dianthus - pinks and carnations - is held by a full time social services manager in her Herefordshire cottage garden.

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In some cases local NCCPG members have realised that between members they have enough interested in a particular plant to hold the national collection between them. The national Elaeagnus collection is the responsibility of the 130-odd members of the NCCPG's Norfolk group and is housed in a field bought by a local church as a potential new burial ground.

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A.� No. Particularly with the most popular plants there are a number of collections running side by side. One may specialise in a particular species and its hybrids, another a different species and its cultivar. It means that should one go into decline or be afflicted by some disaster there are others to carry the mantle.

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There are still plenty of gaps in the national plant collections and if you feel you have an outstanding collection of something weird or wonderful or a plant that has simply gone out of fashion the NCCPG would love to hear from you.

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A.� Every June a selection of collections are on show at the RHS' Hampton Court Show. Otherwise the NCCPG publish a collections directory every year, better known as the 'Yellow Book'. It gives details of every collection and where to find it. Access to them varies as much as their holders. Many are held at properties or nurseries with full public access, but in some cases it may involve telephoning the holder and arranging to pop round at a mutually convenient time.

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