Plant Heritage, today, presents its Brickell Award 2024 to orchid conservation, The Mathers Foundation, at RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival.

Based in West Sussex, The Mathers Foundation is home to three National Plant Collections of orchids (Oncidium; Pleione; Stanhopea & Acineta spp. & hybrids).

The award was presented at the show to chair Gill Mathers, founder David Mathers, and nursery manager Jim Durrant – who was recognised as an associate of honour by the RHS last year.

The Foundation’s sustainable growing techniques, minimal chemical use and active laboratory propagation programme of existing and new cultivar seedlings were all cited as reasons for the award.

Judges commended the Foundation for using the 17,000 plants within its care to support research, including tracking, identification and photographic logging of all of its plants and studying improved methods of growing and propagation.

Enrico Mailli, conservation manager at Plant Heritage, applauds the Foundation’s ongoing work, saying:

“The Mathers Foundation is a fantastic example of three passionate people working to save a plant group they love. Gill, David and Jim have devoted themselves to conserving orchids, making them truly worthy recipients of our Brickell Award.”

Gill Mathers celebrates the Brickell Award 2024 by looking to the Foundations future, saying:

“We intend to expand our work over the coming years, increasing the range of orchids that we look after and developing our research and laboratory propagation programme too.”

The Mathers Foundation intends to expand its three existing collections with a further two.

RHS Hampton Court runs 2 – 7 of July.