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, which has not encouraged the small nursery and individuals who are both knowledgeable & enthusiastic, that the NCCPG/PH welcomes.
There are now four National Plant Collections® of Mentha (or mint plants), in the UK. They are all different, reflecting the Collection Holder's spare time, facilities and personal interests, but all consist of a large number of growing mint plants, although not necessarily all mint plants in all Collections. Three are in southern England, two connected to Plant Nurseries and one Private Collection, and one other Private Collection in north Wales.
Southwest England Southern England Southeast England Northwest Wales
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.
Description: "The Collection is planted in containers in deep beds on 1/4 acre site on level ground with easy access. 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: FROM HOLSWORTHY:- Take the NORTH TAMERTON road for 1 mile TURN RIGHT at THORNDON CROSS follow that road for 2.1 miles ,the farm is on your RIGHT.
FROM BRIDGERULE :- Staring in the centre of the village , with the pub on your left side, drive over the bridge and up the hill, just before the brow of the hill TURN RIGHT at FURZE CROSS follow road to BOUNDS CROSS, TURN LEFT, in 400m the farm is on your LEFT.Mail Order Plant Sales: Yes. Mail order has been re-introduced, subject to availability. Sections or rhizomes are broken from larger pots upon request, so that size of material sent can vary considerably depending on season and popularity of the individual mint. For what is currently available go to website page http://www.penborngoats.com/plantsforsale.htm
Plant Sales to visitors: Yes. Subject to availability. It is probably essential to contact Peter before planning a trip if you have specific mints you would like to buy.
Facilities: Limited parking available. Plants for sale to visitors, by mail order and at some Shows/Farmer's Markets. Although Peter specialises in mints some other herbs are for sale especially lavenders - see website for current list or RHS Plant Finder for an indication of range. Disabled access, but check with Peter for limitations as it may not all be suitable for wheelchairs, or those who need frames.
Collection Entry Charge : Donation to selected charity.
Collection Status: This Collection is still listed as "Provisional", i.e. at the time of initial assessment the collection had not been at it's present size for the minimum period to be designated a "Full" Status Collection, under NCCPG/PH rules. The Collection passed this hurdle years ago and increased further in size, is the only specialist mint nursery, and the only commercial-linked Collection with a website, so ignore the "Provisional" tag, and wait for the NCCPG/PH to catch up.,
Collection Size: 125 taxa. Most of Collection taxa also listed on website page http://www.penborngoats.com/gardenplantlist.htm , including Melissa Collection plants.
Jean Levy - West Sussex
National Mentha Collection Holder: Jean Levy
Address: Chilgrove Barn, High Street, Chilgrove, CHICHESTER, West Sussex, PO18 9HX
Telephone: 07515 760612
E-mail: jean.levy @ btinterent.com
Website: none
Description: [Designation was after the last collection of information for the 2010 Directory, in 2009. This should be added next spring.]
Opening Times: During July, by appointment.
Directions: Chilgrove is a small village located along the B2141 between Lavant and South Harting. The High Street is a small lane winding from the Fish House Restaurant to West Dean Primary School. Chilgrove Barn is just up from the Fish House.
Plant Sales: [Not known at this time.]
Facilities: [Not known at this time.]
Entry: Any voluntary donations to Plant Heritage
Collection Status: [Not known at this time. Designated 2010]
Collection Size: [Not known at this time.]
Iden Croft Herbs - Kent
National Mentha Collection Holder: Iden Croft Herbs
Collection Contact: Ms Tracy Conners-Perry (Nursery Manager),
Address: Iden Croft Herbs, Frittenden Road, STAPLEHURST, TN12 0DH,
Telephone: 01580 891432
Fax: 01580 892416
E-mail: idencroftherbs@yahoo.co.uk
Website: No National Collection website or even webpage. www.uk-herbs.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 said to be on public display in containers on a graveled area within the gardens in the summer (there may be a charge to see the gardens, and if so maybe, presumably, the Mentha Collection) - telephone first before setting off to check Collection is on display!
Mail Order Plant Sales: Yes. The website online shop list is limited to 12 mints. The RHS Plant Finder entry for the Nursery is more extensive, and as this Collection does not publish a list of taxa, so you will need to enquire what additional plants from the RHS Plant Finder list would be available by Mail Order.
Plant Sales to visitors: Yes. Subject to availability, obviously. If you are interested in a particular mint from the RHS Plant Finder list, it would be prudent to ring first to check if it is available. [I have not been able to visit this Nursery or the Collection for many years and do not know if all mints in the Collection on display are available for purchase, so you may need to ask for this information.]
Nursery Opening Times: March-Sept Mon-Sat 9am-5pm Sun & Bank Hol 11am-5pm; Oct-Feb Closed
Gardens Entry Fee (including Collection?): £4 adult; £3 conc. children are free. Dogs allowed on leads only.
Directions: Signposted from A229, just south of 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: 14 species, 80+ cultivars
David Barrett - Gwynedd, Northwest Wales
National Mentha Collection Holder: David Barrett
Postal Address: 7 Gwelfor, Rhosgadfan, CAERNARFON, LL54 7HA
Collection site: visitors will be accompanied to the plants.Telephone: 01286 831480
E-mail: collection @ mentha.org.uk
Websites: mints: mentha.info Collection: mentha.org.uk
Description: The mint collection is, mostly, on a Welsh mountainside, amidst sheep-grazed moorland, but 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 2010. This Collection is not part of a commercial enterprise and so only some accessions may be available to visitors, but most plants can be propagated to order, if the mint enthusiast is prepared to wait what could be a long time. The Collection is being moved at the moment and the process will not be finished until sometime in 2012. The site is not really fit for general visitors in 2011, so it depends on how much of a mintaholic the visitor is.
Opening Times: Viewing is dependent on the unpredictable, and often severe, weather. So an appointment is essential, as is appropriate clothing, and alternative plans.
Entry: Free
Directions: Please send 3 x 1st class stamps (or 3 x IRCs) for information, and enclose a landline telephone contact number as well as your address, if writing. If making enquires by email, please include your address and a landline phone 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 2010/11 is very poor due to process of change of site.
Collection Status: Full. Designated 1991
Collection Size: 100 taxa
Note on "Collection Size" : It is difficult for any 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, for inclusion in the annually published "National Plant Collections Directory ". The Collection Holder keep a list of the number of "accessions", which is the number of plants from different sources, including duplicate forms, which is greater and possibly varying in size as plants are assessed for permanent inclusion. National Collections that are part of or related to a Plant Nursery will quite possibly have a vastly greater number of taxa in the Collection, than they generally offer in their published commercial list. However Collection Holders are supposed to make the majority of their Collection available for propagation for sale or distribution, at their convenience and in quantities they can personally manage. Any numbers of plants given above therefore are a guide, taken from the current "National Plant Collections Directory ", compiled of information usually asked for by the NCCPG/PlantHeritage each July, and then publish the following March!
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/PlantHeritage website, or in the "National Plant Collections Directory", published every year.
National Mentha Collections
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