Honours received........

[Paddy Tobin]

DR EVELEYN STEVENS RECEIVES BRICKELL AWARD FROM NCCPG

This just arrived by e-mail from the National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens and might be of interest.

I associate Dr. Stevens with the lovely snowdrop 'Sophie's North'.

Paddy Tobin

SCOTTISH GARDENER RECEIVES
PLANT CONSERVATION AWARD
FROM HRH THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL


Tucked away in a garden near Dunblane is the National Plant Collection® of Meconopsis - large blue perennial poppies from the Himalayas and Asia  - kept by Dr Evelyn Stevens.  On Monday 7th July, Dr Stevens was presented with the Brickell Award by HRH The Duchess of Cornwall at a special event marking the 30th anniversary of plant conservation charity NCCPG* and its National Plant Collections, at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. 

The Brickell Award is presented annually to the top National Plant Collection holder amongst the 660 in the UK and Ireland by horticultural expert, plant taxonomist and editor Christopher Brickell.  Evelyn Stevens was praised by the judges for her constant and continuing contribution to furthering knowledge of large blue perennial Meconopsis, including the setting up of plant trials in her own garden and at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.  Her activities range widely from investigating and correcting the nomenclature of these plants to helping all to gardeners achieve success in growing these spectacular plants. Evelyn Stevens has also been involved in setting up the UK’s Meconopsis Group, and its website for the public (www.meconopsis.org) sharing her plant knowledge to help others growing or studying these plants. 

Mr Brickell commented:  “Evelyn Stevens taught herself taxonomic botany when she first began collecting Meconopsis, and now, more than 10 years later, writes scientific articles on the genus. We were particularly impressed by her long-term commitment  to making knowledge available to others, which accords well with the reasons for founding NCCPG 30 years ago this year.” 

The Duchess of Cornwall presented Dr Stevens with her award when opening NCCPG’s Plant Heritage Marquee at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show on press day, Monday 7th July.  His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales is NCCPG’s Patron.  NCCPG was founded in 1978 to protect Britain’s garden plant heritage and diversity, then in serious decline. Today its National Plant Collection system protects over 100,000 plants in some 660 Collections nationwide, kept in many different situations from back gardens and allotments to royal gardens, public parks and visitor attractions ranging from heritage properties to zoos. 

NCCPG’s Plant Heritage marquee 2008 is sponsored by Fetzer Bonterra Wines and supported by the RHS. 

-  ends  - 
Press contacts:
NCCPG:  *National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens
Website : www.nccpg.com
National NCCPG PR: Camilla Hair, 01223 528395; camilla@outward-images.co.uk
Joanna Jones,  Fundraising Officer, NCCPG, telephone 01483 447540.  12 Home Farm,
Loseley Park, Guildford GU3 1HS,  fax 01483 458933.  Website : www.nccpg.com

Clarence House Press Office:
Sophie Isachsen
Assistant Press Officer
TRH The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall
Clarence House
London SW1A 1BA
Tel: 020 7024 5618
www.princeofwales.gov.uk


Date:  7th July 2008 

[Maggi Young]

What a great honour and delight for Evelyn. Many congratulations to her and thank you, Paddy, for bringing this to our attention.

[Paddy Tobin]

Maggi,

It is well worth chasing up Evelyn's articles on meconopsis. They are truly both very readable and very informative. I think it is an honour so very well deserved.

Paddy

[Anthony Darby]

Just contacted Evelyn. She wasn't aware the news was on this link. She has a fabulous collection of snowdrops too.

[Maggi Young]

Anthony, naturally I contacted Evelyn as soon as Paddy made this known.
Paddy, not much need to "chase-up" the articles, they are widely available! 

[Maggi Young]

MBE FOR JOHN MASSEY of ASHWOOD'S

While on the subject of honours given to members and friends, I quote here from the July Ashwood Nursery Newsletter: more good news!!
"The Queen's Birthday Honours June 2008

It is with very great pride and pleasure that we can report that John Massey, the owner of Ashwood nurseries has been awarded an MBE in her Majesty the Queen's birthday honours list. He has received this award for his services to charities in the West Midlands. Amongst the many charities that have benefited from his work ranging from Acorns Children's Hospice, Macmillan Cancer Relief, Diabetes UK, Hearts of England Association, County Air Ambulance, a treatment centre for sufferers with MS to our latest charity, The Renal Unit at Wolverhampton New Cross Hospital, as well as many smaller donations to local charities. In all something around Ł140,000 has been raised since fund raising began. John is very modest about his achievements, saying that the award is really for everyone at the nursery and the local area who have helped to raise so much for the charity causes in the West Midlands."

[evelyn]

Thank you to Paddy Tobin for posting the NCCPG press release about the Brickell award to myself for "Excellence in cultivated plant conservation" by the Duchess of Cornwall at the Hampton Court Flower Show and to and to Anthony Darby for telling me about it being posted.

I am very pleased for two main reasons:

1. It high-lights the success of the work of The Meconopsis Group over the last 10 years in clarifying the identities and naming of the big blue perennial poppies.

2. It also high-lights the valuable work of the National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens (NCCPG) over the last 30 years in preserving our cultivated garden plant heritage (see www.nccpg.org.uk for further details about the organisation and how to become a member).

Evelyn Stevens (Co-founder and Co-ordinator of The Meconopsis Group)