Preserving Tomorrow

In a secret location in the south west of England, a cluster of buildings are home to some of the country’s rarest and most historically important plants. The National Trust Plant Conservation Centre (PCC) – a couple of polytunnels, a greenhouse and a building known as the potting shed – might look like your average nursery, but the four-strong team who work here are responsible for conserving the rich diversity of plants that can be found in the National Trust’s gardens and parks.

The idea for a conservation centre came about after the Great Storm of 1987 when hurricane-force winds swept across southern Britain felling, it’s