Recent additions to the National Bonsai Collection

During the last few months, the National Bonsai Collection has been fortunate in gaining four more trees.  The first is a Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), part purchased by FNBC which now stands as a centrepiece in the bonsai house of the National Collection.  This tree was originally styled by Peter Adams in the late 1970’s/early 1980’s and subsequently became part of the bonsai collection of Kath and Malcolm Hughes.

A second tree which is due shortly to be placed in the Collection is a hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), donated to the Collection by the Association of British Bonsai Artists. This particular tree was formally owned by the late David Joyce which he collected back in October 1976 and which he developed into a low-lying windswept style.

Two further trees, a beech group and a Western hemlock, have been generously donated by Gilly Taylor-Duxbury. Both require some work to be done to them before they are placed in the Collection, but it is hoped that both will be on display to the public by 2012.

Friends of the National Bonsai Collection: 2011 Raffle

Aimed to coincide with this years ‘Best of British Bonsai’ event at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, the charity Friends of the National Bonsai Collection held a raffle in order to raise funds for maintaining the bonsai and display facilities at the Collection site.

The raffle was well supported, raising over £1,000. The draw itself took place at the ‘Best of British Bonsai’ event on the afternoon of Sunday, 10 April.  The committee of the National Bonsai Collection would like to take this opportunity to express thanks to all those who supported this fund-raising exercise.