Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
General Subjects => General Forum => Topic started by: Matt T on December 03, 2015, 10:14:36 AM
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Hi Folks,
Almost thirty years ago, the great John Blanchard undertook a trip to Spain looking for Narcissus in the wild. He reported on his trip in the Daffodil Yearbook 1986/7. Reading this article I thought it would make a fascinating research project to revisit his sites so see how the plants he found (or failed to find) have fared, what changes have taken place and what else I might find.
As the timing of this project is critical (end March 2016), I have fallen between the application windows for the SRGC Exploration Fund. So instead I have set up a Crowdfunder page which will allow people to support and share in this research, increasing our knowledge of these plants in the wild that so many of us grow and love: http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/blanchards-spanish-diary/ (http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/blanchards-spanish-diary/)
I'm offering a range of rewards to those who make a pledge, with a focus on sharing the information gathered through this project. Please take a peek at my page. It would be great if you could support my project by pledging, sharing and leaving a nice comment: http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/blanchards-spanish-diary/ (http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/blanchards-spanish-diary/)
Thanks!
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Very worthwhile project, Matt - not least because of the benefits that will accrue to the SRGC in terms of the sharing of information ! Ian and I are happy to support you.
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Very worthwhile project, Matt - not least because of the benefits that will accrue to the SRGC in terms of the sharing of information ! Ian and I are happy to support you.
Sharing my research will be just one way I can pay back the benefits I have received by being a Member of the SRGC!
Thank you for your support!
M
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Hi Matt,
Great initiative! I support it and I look forward for it to succeed!
Cheers, Hans
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Happy to support you Matt
Let us hope for a good growing season and lots of sunshine for the photos.
Arthur
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Have a good field trip, Matt ;)
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Thank you all for your support and words of encouragement. It will be an interesting trip and I look forward to sharing the results with you.
M
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Fantastic idea and I look forward to reading the results. Happy to support and all the very best. I also have a copy of John's 'Narcissus A Guide to Wild Daffodils' book. Fantastic read and an amazing resource.
Dave
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Happy to support your project, Matt especially as this was my late husband's interest. He bought Blanchard's book many years ago and many of our holidays were spent in Spain looking for wild daffodils. Hope your trip goes well.
Ann
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Happy to support your project, Matt especially as this was my late husband's interest. He bought Blanchard's book many years ago and many of our holidays were spent in Spain looking for wild daffodils. Hope your trip goes well.
Ann
Remembering the photos of wild narcissus in Galicia from your trip in 2012. So lovely to have seen them in nature, Ann.
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Thank you Dave and Ann for your support, it is very much appreciated.
So many generous folk like you have already got me more than halfway towards achieving my fundraising target, which is very encouraging. I just hope that the spring weather in 2016 is kind so that I can find plenty of Narcissus whilst I am there. I look forward to sharing my results with you all on my return.
M
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Coincidence is a funny thing, for at the same time as you posted your crowd funding appeal, the SRGC Exploration Fund Committee was discussing removing the application deadline date for expeditions in 2016/7, on a trial basis. We all agreed to impose no deadline for applications for 2016/7 expeditions and so this now leaves the way open for you (and anyone else) to apply to us for funding at any time.
Just download the application form from the website and send it in to Carol Shaw.
Good Luck.
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I think the trial of a rolling application process for the Exploration Fund is a good idea. :)
Main SRGC Grants page is http://www.srgc.net/site/index.php/extensions/grants (http://www.srgc.net/site/index.php/extensions/grants) with info on Diana Aitchison Grants for students of horticulture and the Exploration Fund.
Also links from the forum too, of course : http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=12704.0 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=12704.0)
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Hi Matt,
I hope that you don't mind that I've added a link on daff.net about your project: http://daffnet.org/ (http://daffnet.org/)
cheers
fermi
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Not at all, Fermi!
Many thanks for spreading the word.
M
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I want to thank everyone who has believed in and supported my project so far.
Researching and planning the detail of my trip to follow in John Blanchard’s footsteps to study Narcissus in the wild has got me eager to get out there and see what I will find. The intervening 30 years could have seen significant changes and this year’s unusual weather is likely to have had a major impact on Narcissus flowering times. No doubt there will be much to see and learn and I look forward to sharing my findings on my return.
The Crowdfunder deadline is not far away now, so I’d be grateful if you could help me in one last push to reach my target by sharing this project with your networks and any contacts who you think might be interested in supporting my work: http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/blanchards-spanish-diary/ (http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/blanchards-spanish-diary/)
Your support would very much appreciated and will help us to learn more about Narcissus in the wild. Thank you so much!
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I'm delighted to report that the SRGC Exploration Fund Committee has awarded Matt a grant of £750 for this project. Thank goodness we got rid of the deadline date in time to be able to help.
Matt - We're all looking forward to hearing about what you find when you get to the Blanchard sites. Good luck.
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Hope you have reached your total now Matt - Bon Voyage!
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I have to thank everyone who has shown their support for my project, including the SRGC for their grant under the revisions to the Exploration Fund.
My first venture at using Crowdfunder has also been a success in getting this project going, allowing people who are interested in sharing in this project to support me directly. As a result my project is now almost fully funded, which means that I can focus all my energies on the huge amount of work that will have to be undertaken in the field. I'm not actively pushing the Crowdfunder page at this stage, but it will remain open until the original deadline of 28 Jan for anyone who might want to access the offered rewards (i.e. a copy of the full, detailed project report and/or talk to their Local Group).
My foreign travels always have to have an aim, but the work will not stop when I return, with a huge amount of data that will need to be processed, interpreted and turned into useful reports, articles and formats that can be shared with you all.
The support from you all is greatly appreciated.
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Fantastic news. We are looking forward to your talk at The Perthshire Group, SRGC.
Have a fabulous trip.
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The Aberdeen Group is delighted to be involved in your project, Matt. It is exciting to have an interest in such a scheme.
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An update on this project can be found here (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=13808.msg364467#msg364467) and details of talks are in the Perth, Angus and Aberdeen local group programmes here (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=14621.0).
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Anyone who is interested in the report from my research project AND supporting the SRGC Exploration Fund can find more details here (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=13808.msg364729#msg364729).
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Matt’s article on some of the plants other than narcissus which he saw during his trip were published in the IRG 81 (International Rock Gardener e-magazine (http://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/index.php?log=international)) CLICK HERE (http://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2016Sep291475167835IRG_81.pdf)
In the eagerly awaited January 2017 issue of the SRGC‘s printed journal, The Rock Garden #138 ( due out to members in mid January we hope) his report on the trip in relation to Blanchard’s findings will be printed. In the online IRG #85 of January 2017, a photo essay supplement will be included. That issue will go online on the last Friday of the month.