National Collections of Orchids in the UK

The best way to conserve any orchid - or indeed any species of plant or animal - is in its undisturbed natural habitat.  But, with habitat destruction as the greatest conservation threat, other approaches have a vital role to play in any realistic conservation strategy.  One of these is the development and maintenance of specialist collections in cultivation, usually under the auspices of nationally organised schemes.  Such collections, normally concentrating on single genera, not only play a valuable part in conservation (e.g. as a "captive" seed source) but also provide a very useful research resource.

In the UK, the National Plant Collection scheme of The National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens fulfills this role admirably.  It is the main conservation vehicle of the NCCPG, whose declared mission is to conserve, grow, propagate, document and make available the amazing resource of garden plants which exists in the UK.  Under the NCCPG scheme individuals and organisations undertake to document, develop and preserve a comprehensive collection of one group of plants in trust for the future.

Several National Collections of Orchids are recognised.  Significantly, virtually all are the creations of private individuals - amateur growers with no scientific training and no links to commercial horticulture, just a passionate interest in orchids - who have developed a frequently unrivalled knowledge and understanding of their specialities.

The National Collections, with contact details for their creaters/holders, are . . .