Plant Heritage celebrates conservationists and volunteers at inaugural RHS Badminton Flower Show

Alan’s diligent and exceptional knowledge fuels his research into finding missing cultivars, he ensures the correct taxonomic identification of newly found or bred cultivars is correct. He has worked with contacts across Europe in both his research and conservation work, including the Royal Netherlands Bulb Growers Association and with the Vilnius based floriculture research station in Lithuania. His work in Lithuania has been recognised by the Lithuanian Embassy in London.  

The judges praised Alan’s research in finding lost cultivars and keeping those out of favour in cultivation. He was also praised for his international collaboration and maintenance of historical cultivars. They were also impressed by his endeavours to keep such a large collection, and to continue the cycle of lifting and propagating his plants each year.  

The winner of the Marsh Plant Conservation Award is Julian Reed, who is recognised for his exceptional contribution to fern conservation and the development of Plant Heritage’s National Plant Collections. He holds the National Collections of Polypodium (hardy cultivars), Polystichum (hardy cultivars) and Origanum vulgare & Origanum laevigatum cultivars.  

Julian has supported many other fern collections and plants people, both supplying plants to help establish new collections, and creating duplicate collections of his Polystichum at Canonteign Falls and the Picton Garden, as well as a Dryopteris collection also at Canonteign Falls. He is as generous with his advice as he is with his plants.  

He has been a tireless advocate for the work of Plant Heritage for many years, and his passion for plant conservation is limitless. His decision to begin a new National Plant Collection of Oregano illustrates this perfectly. He noticed that it was on the Missing Collections list and encouraged others to start a National Collection, but when nobody stepped forward, he started a new collection himself.  

He also contributed rare and very old plants to the Plant Heritage Missing Collector Garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026, as well as to previous Chelsea show gardens.  

The three Marsh Volunteer of the Year Award winners are John Wilkinson who is part of the North West Plant Heritage group, June James based in Hampshire and Jenny Stewart from Sussex.  

John is a passionate member of Plant Heritage and has been the National Plant Collections Co-ordinator for the Lancashire area for many years. In this voluntary role, he has mentored many people through the process of becoming a National Collection holder, so they could play their part in conserving our garden plants for the future, as well as keeping in touch with those who’ve had their National Collections for many years. He’s a regular at the North West group’s talks, garden visits and plant fairs, and has also built links with other conservation groups. His nominee speaks warmly of his huge knowledge and endless kindness, and his incredible work for decades.  

June James is being recognised for her leadership of Plant Heritage’s popular Seed Shop, which gets more people growing from seed and has raised over £100,000 to support the charity so far. The idea was developed 20 years ago and June worked on it closely with her friend Janet Wright, who has since sadly passed away. The first Seed Shop was launched at the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show in 2008 and you will now find it at lots of events, including the RHS Badminton Flower Show. The seed is donated by Plant Heritage members and June’s still heavily involved: collecting seed herself and teaching others how to sort, clean, pack and label it correctly, sharing her enthusiasm as well as offering advice to the public on successful growing and encouraging them to try more unusual varieties. This year the Seed Shop is raising even more money for charity thanks to a partnership with Aldbury Products Ltd who are providing the envelopes for free. 

Jenny Stewart has been an active member of Plant Heritage for nearly 50 years, supporting her local group in Sussex in all sorts of ways - from illustrating the newsletter with beautiful pictures of plants and flowers to baking cakes for those attending the group’s regular plant conservation talks. She was one of the first people to join Plant Heritage when membership was opened up beyond those who have a National Plant Collection and remains an active member of the committee (which she used to chair). Her nominee says that she’s a regular at any event and always incredibly welcoming to everyone she meets.  

The awards will be presented by Sara Oldfield (formerly the Director of Botanic Gardens Conservation International and Marsh Trust Ambassador).