The symbolism of the feature is quite strong, with the crown representing plant heritage, encircling and protecting the plants within. The National Plant collections which central to Plant Heritage’s work conserving our rich heritageof garden plants are depicted as the ‘jewels within the crown’. There are six hundred and forty national collections, so the twenty of so featured are just a small selection of the total. The planting is rich and full and varied, like the collections.
Some of the larger collections, such as trees, will be represented through carvings of their seeds and the central sculpture is of the number thirty five carved into a mighty Oak. I has been collaborating with Chain saw artist Ella Fielding who has managed to get the feeling of the numbers emerging from the Oak tree itself.
A number of stray plants outside of the protection of the crown will illustrate that not all plants are currently protected within a National Collection. These plants may get trodden on and could even die off as the week goes on but this is intentional and indicates that there is still much to be done to continue the vital conservation work of Plant heritage.
The Plant Heritage Marquee is adjacent to the Floral Marquee this year as part of the RHS’s new ‘Grow’ zone.
Selina will be available every day from 11-12 to talk about the display and point out some of her favourite plants.
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