National Mentha Collections
The National Plant Collection® Scheme was originated by and still administered by the NCCPG (now also called Plant Heritage) in the UK. There are no equivalents set-ups in other countries, although The Netherlands and Australia has something approaching it splitting the commercial and the private into two and the USA has a commercially based system, with a high "membership" cost, which will not include the small nursery and individuals who are knowledgeable & enthusiasts, that the NCCPG welcomes.
There are three National Plant Collections® of Mentha (or mint plants), in the UK at the moment. Two in southern England connected to Plant Nurseries and one in north Wales as a private collection.
SouthwestEngland SoutheastEngland NorthWales
Penborn Goat Farm - Devon
National Mentha Collection Holder: Peter Oldfield
Address: Penborn Goat Farm, Bounds Cross, HOLSWORTHY, EX22 6LH,
Telephone: 01288 381569
E-mail: penborngoats@toucansurf.com
Website: www.penborngoats.com/thenursery.html is the section of the website for the plant nursery at Penborn Goats - the mints you see at the nursery are the NPC, the stock plants for the sales plants.
Description: "The Collection is planted in containers in deep beds on 1/4 acre site on level ground with easy access." (May not be suitable for wheelchairs, or those who need frames, so check first.) "The best time to see the plants is June-Sept. Limited parking so please phone to check."
Opening Times: On open weekends and bank holidays from March 21st to September 28th, 10am to 4pm or by appointment.
Directions: Take North Tamerton Road from Holsworthy for 1 mile, turn right at Thorndon Cross, follow this road for 2 miles, farm is on right.
Facilities: Parking available. Plants for sale to visitors and at some Shows/Farmer's Markets. No longer available by Mail Order. Some other herbs for sale especially lavenders. Disabled access (but check with Peter for limitations).
Entry: Donation to selected charity.
Collection Status: "Provisional", i.e. at the time of initial assessment (2 years ago) the collection had not been at it's present size for the minimum period to be designated a "Full" Status Collection, under NCCPG rules. If anything it is even larger now!
Collection Size: Not known.
Iden Croft Herbs - Kent
National Mentha Collection Holder: Iden Croft Herbs
Collection Contact: Ms Tracy Pearman (Nursery Manager),
Address: Iden Croft Herbs, Frittenden Road , STAPLEHURST, TN12 0DH,
Telephone: 01580 891432
Fax: ???
E-mail: idencroftherbs@yahoo.co.uk
Website: No National Collection website or webpage. www.herbs-uk.com is the nursery website - the online sales area of the website only has a limited number of mints compared to the RHS Plant Finder entries for Iden Croft Herbs.
Description: National Collection is on public display within the gardens in the summer (there is a charge to see gardens, and thus the Collection) - telephone first before setting off to check Collection is on display!
Nursery Opening Times: March-Sept Mon-Sat 9am-5pm Sun & Bank Hol 11am-5pm; Oct-Feb Mon-Fri 9am-4pm, Closed Weekends
Gardens Entry Fee (including Collection): £4 adult; £3 conc. children are free. Dogs allowed on leads only.
Directions: Signposted from A229 S Staplehurst.
Facilities: Dogs permitted. Parking available. Toilets available. Some mint plant forms for sale. Large selection of other herbs for sale. Limited mail-order of mints. Disabled access (but check first for any limitations).
Collection Status: Full
Collection Size: Not known.
David Barrett - Gwynedd
National Mentha Collection Holder: David Barrett
Postal Address: 7 Gwelfor, Rhosgadfan, CAERNARFON, LL54 7HA (Collection is at a different location).
Telephone: 07775857151
E-mail: collection @ mentha.org.uk
Websites: mints: mentha.info (this site) Collection: mentha.org.uk
Description: The mint collection is, mostly, on a Welsh mountainside, amidst sheep-grazed moorland (not at the postal address). The plants are in large pots, with a varying selection of forms grown in unusual containers and the ground, from time to time, but not in 2009. This Collection is not part of a commercial enterprise and so not all accessions are available to visitors, but most plants can be propagated to order each year, if the enthusiast is prepared to wait.
Opening Times: Viewing is dependent on the unpredictable, and often severe, weather. So an appointment is essential, as is appropriate clothing.
Entry: Free
Directions: Please send 3 x 1st class stamps (or 3 x IRCs) for information, and enclose a landline telephone contact number.
Facilities: Limited Parking available. Some plants may be available to visitors. Personal conducted tour. Accessible to some disabilities, if the sloping rough track approach doesn't pose a problem to vehicles. Wheelchair access not possible as yet. Disability access in 2009 is very poor due to process of change of site. A small number of plants may be viewable with disabled access at our home, by arrangement.
Collection Status: Full. Designated 1991
Collection Size: over 100 species, varieties, forms, cultivars, un-named and yet to be identified.
Note on "Collection Size" : It is difficult for and Mentha Collection Holder to give an accurate number of plants in their Collection. The NCCPG/PlantHeritage wants the number of "taxa", which is how many actually different forms, not necessarily the number of names. The Collection Holder will list the number of "accessions", which is the number of plants including duplicate named forms from different sources which could turn out to be slightly different, when it would be included in the taxa list, but not necessarily the public list, because the identity of the "new" plant has to researched, which could take many years.
There are National Plant Collections® of many of the well known and lesser known garden plants. Information on these can be found at the NCCPG website, or in the Directory of National Collections, published every year.
National Mentha Collections
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