Alan Titchmarsh welcomes visitors to the National Plant Collections show during Virtual Chelsea

Plant collectors in Derbyshire will be tuning in to an online broadcast as part of this week's digital version of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
Alan Titchmarsh, president of Plant Heritage. Photo courtesy of Plant Heritage.Alan Titchmarsh, president of Plant Heritage. Photo courtesy of Plant Heritage.
Alan Titchmarsh, president of Plant Heritage. Photo courtesy of Plant Heritage.

A new video featuring National Plant Collections, created by horiticultural charity Plant Heritage, will be shown on Friday, May 22, at 8am.

The charity has 650 such collections across the country including those at The Abbey Brook Cactus Nursery in Matlock, Renishaw Hall, Darley Park in Derby, Hardwick Hall and one curated by Sally Williams who lives in Chinley.

Viewers of the video will learn about the 4,000 cacti from South America that can be admired in Aberdeenshire, the 50+ types of eucalyptus tree in Kent and a historic collection of irises in Suffolk cultivated by noted physiologist Sir Michael Foster and now tended by his great, great granddaughter.

The presentation will begin with a welcome from Alan Titchmarsh, president of Plant Heritage, before taking viewers into the world of irises, lilies, eucalypti and cacti.

Bursting with colour, and packed full of interesting insights from those who care for and nurture these precious National Plant Collections - and all with the backdrop of beautiful birdsong – watching this ten-minute video is guaranteed to be time well spent.

To tune into the video as part of the Virtual Chelsea online show, go to www.rhs.org.uk/virtualchelsea

If you are unable to watch the video live, it will be available later on the Plant Heritage website at www.plantheritage.org.uk