Recent Trials collections have included:
Fuchsia , Hyacinthaceae , Spiraea , Potentilla , Lavandula , Canna , Geranium and yellow daisies.
New recording techniques are being developed making more use of modern technology and linking with recording carried out by the Trials Department.
Recording and collection of native flora
In 2002, with some of the Herbarium staff, a student sponsored by the Nuffield Bursary Trust, recorded plants in the River Wey embankment at RHS Garden Wisley, an area of regenerating native flora and related the current flora with historical records. Botanical recording of this area is ongoing and representative herbarium specimens are being collected.
Award of Garden Merit
With the assistance of volunteer workers, material is collected from the RHS gardens for verification, and voucher specimens are then placed in the Herbarium to provide a permanent record. Recently volunteers have been systematically collecting representative material of Award of Garden Merit plants There are no vacancies for herbarium volunteers at present although the situation may change later in 2004.
National Plant Collection of Heathers
Volunteers are starting to collect specimens from all the heathers in the National Plant Collection grown in Howards Field at RHS Garden Wisley. Photographs of both the plant habit and close-ups of the flowers are being taken to augment the records.
Conifers
Specimens of all the conifers in RHS Garden Wisley have been collected by volunteers and photographs taken of the living plants and foliage. A different technique was required for genera such as Abies and Picea which normally drop their needles when dried
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