Boost for rare species conservation

THE groundbreaking work of the Rare Species Conservation Project at Duchy College Rosewarne has received a welcome boost from the Friends of Pencarrow, who have donated £500 towards the unit's unique micro-propagation techniques.

For the last three years, Rosewarne has been working on developing methods to conserve rare, historic or commercially unavailable plants threatened with Sudden Oak Death (SOD) disease, a virus that originally came into this country from America. The virus, which affects numerous plants, has already been found in many locations throughout the county. The implications for Cornwall's internationally famous spring gardens could be catastrophic.

Over the years, Pencarrow's Grade II listed gardens have become particularly vulnerable. Ray Abbott, one of the Friends responsible for the initiative, said: "We are only too aware of this virus and the havoc it can cause. We feel that our small contribution to this massive task will not only be helping Pencarrow's long term future but that of all Cornish gardens."