Charity

Plant Heritage appointed new Vice Presidents

The charity has appointed four new Vice Presidents to ensure their aim of conserving the diversity of garden plants for future generations is achieved.

Plant Heritage Charity Vice Presidents

Plant Heritage is a conservation charity that champions and conserves garden plants to ensure they remain in cultivation and don’t become lost from gardens. The National Plant Collections – of which there are now over 700 – are a vital resource and keep plant groups alive that might be threatened by climate change, emerging pests, diseases, or changing trends.

The new appointees:

  • David Knott – Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh’s current Curator of Living Collections DHE SHM CHort FIHort. Knott has worked all over the globe, from Longwood Gardens (USA) to undertaking fieldwork in Korea and Nepal. Currently based at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, where he works as their Curator of Living Collections.
  • Michael Marriott – Leading rose expert and David Austin Roses alumni. As a passionate gardener, Marriott began working at David Austin Roses in 1985. He retired in 2019, but currently lectures, writes, and works as a consultant.
  • Elizabeth Banks CBE – RHS President Emeritus CBE, DL, CMLI, F.Hort. Banks is a landscape architect and set up her own business in 1985 designing Rosemoor Gardens for the RHS 1987. She designed six Chelsea show gardens, five of which were awarded gold medals. She was elected first woman president of the Royal Horticultural Society in 2010.
  • Sarah Bray – RHS Judge , Collection Holder of Stewartia at High Beeches gardens. Bray is a member of the RHS Woody Plant Committee, and Trustee and Manager of High Beeches Woodland and Water Garden in West Sussex.

The new VPs will act as an ambassadors for Plant Heritage, and have been appointed in recognition of their distinguished service to the charity and their ability to make a significant contribution to Plant Heritage’s objectives. They join existing Vice Presidents Christopher Brickell, Jamie Compton, Corinna, Lady Hamilton, Roy Lancaster and Sir Roy Strong.

Cecilia Bufton, Chairman of Plant Heritage, says: “Welcoming David Knott, Michael Marriott, Elizabeth Banks, and Sarah Bray as Plant Heritage’s new Vice Presidents is a real joy. Each brings a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm to their new roles, which I’ve no doubt will enable us to go from strength to strength. We are very much looking forward to seeing where Plant Heritage goes next with their expert guidance.”