Europe s biggest daffodil collection could inspire gardeners

Europe s biggest daffodil collection could inspire gardeners

» 9th March 2010 «

A daffodil attraction in Cornwall has been expanded to become the largest collection in Europe and could be the ideal inspiration for those looking to improve their garden this year.

According to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), the Trevarno fields near Helston have just been augmented to include more than 2,600 varieties.

Started more than two years ago, the collection is the work of New Generation Daffodils owner Mark Vandervliet and Quality Daffodils' Ron Scamp.

The 1,000 new additions come from Dutch collector Carlos Vanderveek, whose father held a world-renowned collection prior to his death.

"We've created a tremendous gene bank for botanists and researchers. We've had people from America, New Zealand - the four quarters of the globe, really, to see Trevarno and the daffodils," the RHS reported Mr Scamp as saying.

Plant Heritage is now considering the attraction for National Collection status.

Meanwhile, gardeners may be interested to learn that the RHS has reported that Leonardslee in West Sussex - which contains one of the country's best rhododendron and camellia collections - is to close this year.