A Cambridgeshire grower who has built one of the world’s most extensive collections of hyacinths has received a prestigious national award for his contribution to plant conservation.
Alan Shipp has been named the winner of the Plant Heritage Brickell Award 2026, which recognises excellence in the conservation of cultivated plants.
He has maintained the National Plant Collection of Hyacinthus orientalis since 1993, growing it from an initial 50 to 60 cultivars into a collection containing 243 cultivars, one species and 261 taxa overall.
The collection is now regarded as one of the most comprehensive of its kind in the world.
As Alan’s work became known internationally, previously undocumented or missing cultivars were identified through contacts in Belarus, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Romania and Switzerland.
His research has focused on locating lost varieties, preserving cultivars that have fallen out of commercial favour and ensuring newly discovered or bred plants are correctly identified.
Alan has worked with organisations including the Royal Netherlands Bulb Growers’ Association and a floriculture research station in Vilnius, Lithuania. His contribution to plant conservation in Lithuania has also been recognised by the Lithuanian Embassy in London.
Judges praised his efforts to preserve historically important cultivars, his international collaboration and the extensive work required to maintain and propagate such a large collection each year.
They also highlighted his specialist knowledge and commitment to protecting varieties that may otherwise have disappeared from cultivation.
The Brickell Award is now in its 23rd year and is presented to National Plant Collection holders who have made an exceptional contribution to cultivated plant conservation.
It is named after Chris Brickell, a former director general of the Royal Horticultural Society and a founding member of Plant Heritage.
