As the UK’s largest Garden Centre Group, we are delighted to announce a long-term collaboration with the National Trust.
Launched in August 2022, the five-year collaboration will see the development of an exciting collection of seeds, bulbs and plants that are inspired by the gardens the National Trust cares for.
Through sales generated from the National Trust Collection by Blue Diamond, a minimum of 10% of the retail sales price per product will be given to the National Trust to help look after nature, beauty and history for everyone, for ever.
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The collaboration
The National Trust look after the greatest collection of historic gardens and garden plants under single ownership in Europe. They encompass more than 500 years of history and a vast range of garden styles and fashions. With more than 200 gardens in their care, from kitchen gardens to colourful displays of spring bulbs, rare and unusual trees, along with heritage rose gardens, the National Trust bring a shared passion for gardening to this collaboration
The collaboration between Blue Diamond and the Trust working together has resulted in the development of unique collections of seeds, bulbs, roses and plants that are inspired by the gardens the National Trust cares for. These collections are available exclusively in all Blue Diamond Garden Centres and online at https://store.bluediamond.gg/shop/national-trust-collection/
A shared passion
Alongside a shared passion for gardens, both Blue Diamond and the National Trust are committed to caring for the environment - the National Trust is Europe’s largest conservation charity and this ethos flows through everything it does.
Blue Diamond has taken many positive steps to reduce its impact on the environment and has implemented measures to reduce its carbon footprint. As part of Blue Diamond’s commitment to sustainable product production, all plants in the National Trust Collections by Blue Diamond are potted in peat free compost and in recycled and recyclable pots. In 2021, Blue Diamond also partnered with the Soil Association and is working with them to promote environmentally friendly and organic gardening.
Image Credit: ©National Trust Images/John Millar
'Preserved our heritage'
Michaela Davies, Brand Licensing Manager at the National Trust said: “We know that not only do our visitors love to explore the gardens we care for, but they also leave inspired to make changes in their own green spaces – however large or small. Therefore, this collaboration with Blue Diamond is a very logical one.
With both organisations also sharing a commitment to sustainable product production and featuring heritage, rare and unusual varieties; varieties that would have been lost without the National Trust’s care. This is a wonderful collection for both passionate gardeners and those just dipping their toes.”
Alan Roper, Managing Director of the Blue Diamond Group said: “The National Trust is a much loved and cherished institution and I am pleased that our collaboration with the National Trust will provide funding for this charitable organisation who for the past 128 years have preserved our heritage and open spaces for all to enjoy. I look forward to unlocking their rich heritage of plant species which will be grown on our nursery, and be on sale over the coming years within our garden centres.”
Already in 2023, Blue Diamond was able to offer to the public in an exclusive auction, 10 rare saplings, direct descendants of the apple tree that is said to have inspired Sir Isaac Newton’s theory of gravity. The public has not previously been able to bid for such rare saplings.
It is hoped that Blue Diamond, working with the National Trust, can bring more plants such as this, into commercial production.
Biggest contributor to Plant Conservation
Blue Diamond is one of the biggest financial contributors to the National Trust plant conservation projects.
Through sales generated from these collections, Blue Diamond has committed to giving the National Trust £1 million over 3 years from the start of the collaboration.
£160,000 was given to the Trust by Blue Diamond in the first year of the collaboration and another £175,000 in the first half, of the second year.
In addition, Blue Diamond has given £15,705 to the Trust from the proceeds of an auction of saplings, direct descendants of Newton’s apple tree.
Money given to the Trust in the first year of this collaboration has been used to fund several important projects including projects Woolsthorpe, Mottisfont Abbey and Croft Castle and Parkland.
Image Credit: © National Trust Images/James Dobson
Shop the collections now...
Scroll down the page to find out more about our collaboration and the collections below, however, if you wish to shop the range now, simply click on the buttons below:
National Trust Seed Collection
Blue Diamond has been working closely with the National Trust and their gardeners to develop the 2024 Seed Collection.
The resulting collection reflects the beauty of the Trust’s gardens and the tried and tested secrets of its gardening experts.
The Collection consists of 98 varieties and 19 seed mixes inspired by the colours, tones and the historic planting found in Trust gardens. It includes flowering varieties which are ideal for dry flower arrangements and perfect for floral bouquets and plants which are the highlight of National Trust gardens, such as Cosmos at Mottisfont and Sweet Pea at Peckover House.
National Trust Bulb Collection
Blue Diamond has worked closely with National Trust gardeners to introduce for Spring 2024, new collections of summer flowering bulbs which includes varieties of Dahlia, Lily of the Valley and Gladioli.
The dahlia collection will be of particular interest, especially for lovers of crime writer, Agatha Christe, as we are introducing this Spring, the new and exclusive variety, dahlia ‘Orient Express’ along with other varieties curated to form the ‘Thriller Trilogy’ which includes dahlias inspired by those planted at Greenways, where Agatha and her family spent together.
Old favourites from last year will also feature in our summer flowering bulb collection and include collections of Agapanthus and Crocosmia.
Also look out for our new summer flowering bulb range of ready to plant trays which this year includes bulbs inspired by National Trust cared gardens at Dyrham Park, Clumber Park, Plas Newydd and Wimpole Hall.
National Trust Roses and Gardener's Favourites
The National Trust Rose Collection includes roses inspired by the National Trust and it's properties such as Rosa ‘Mottisfont’ and Rosa ‘Tatton’. New for 2024 is Rosa ‘National Trust Beauty’ an exclusive rose which will be launched in celebration of our Main Avenue Show Garden at Chelsea 2024. Also new the Gardeners Favourites Collection which includes roses nominated by National Trust Gardeners as being those with a real wow factor.
Through sales generated from the National Trust Collection by Blue Diamond, a minimum of 10% of the retail sales price per product will be given to the National Trust to help look after nature, beauty and history for everyone, for ever.
Newton's Apple Tree Auction
Saplings from Sir Isaac Newton Tree with Gravitas auctioned off to a school, descendant of Sir Isaac Newton and a Woolsthorpe Manor neighbour.
Europe’s largest conservation charity, the National Trust and Blue Diamond Garden Centres auctioned ten saplings propagated from the apple tree that inspired Sir Isaac Newton’s theory of gravity.
At a presentation ceremony, held in September 2023 at Woolsthorpe Manor, the childhood home of Sir Isaac Newton and where he formed the Theory of Gravity, the 10 winners were presented with their saplings.
Amongst the winners, is a distant descendant of Sir Isaac Newton, a local Lincolnshire resident who lives only 10 miles from Woolsthorpe Manor and the newly built Science, Technology and Research Centre at Haileybury College in Hertford.
National Trust Tree and Hedgerow Collection
As part of our collaboration with the National Trust, Blue Diamond has introduced a range of trees and shrubs suitable for hedgerows.
Trees and hedgerows are nature’s highways and are essential for providing wildlife with places to nest and feed.
Following World War Two, the UK saw a decline in the number of its hedgerows and many that survive are in poor condition. It is therefore vital to address this and encourage people to plant hedgerows which will, in turn, encourage more wildlife.
Trees and shrubs, such as viburnum, hawthorn and elderberry, form part of the collection.
Herbaceous Border Collections
These bespoke collections are inspired by the borders at four National Trust properties; Nymans – West Sussex, Hill Top – Cumbria, Sissinghurst Castle Garden – Kent, and Hidcote – Gloucestershire.
All famous for their bountiful displays, these collections will allow people to replicate a bit of the National Trust in their own garden.
Each collection includes a selection of plants of differing heights, textures and colours. Available in all Blue Diamond Garden Centres from spring 2024.