I am sorry to have to report that Professor Charles Stirton, who has been our Patron for several years has been forced to tender his resignation as he will be moving away to Bath with his business which will henceforth be based there. Charlie came to Carmarthenshire to head the team which set-up the National Botanic Garden at Middleton for the Millennium.  A visionary project developed by visionary people which sadly has not had the support it deserves. My colleagues on the Committee and I will be very sorry not to have him in attendance at meetings in future – he was always a dynamo of energy and ideas and brought new light to the Society.  I hope he will be able to contribute as much in his new home as he has done here and hope he will still remain in touch with us.

In recent years, the teaching of taxonomy and plant (and animal) identification in schools and colleges has been wound-down to such an extent that it is becoming increasingly difficult to find people with the skills necessary to identify the common species, let alone those protected and Biodiversity Action Plan species which we are all supposed to be conserving. This has the knock-on effect that it is becoming impossible to adequately implement the legislation or to effectively carry out environmental impact assessments.  The National Botanic Garden of Wales, although still in its infancy, was establishing itself as a major seat of botanical research and education.  A recent development was the planting of systematic beds which provided an invaluable teaching tool to learners of all ages and, in particular, was of major importance in addressing the current shortcomings in taxonomic teaching in Wales.  The garden had the makings of a National Institution with potential to rival the best similar research establishments in the world.  As such it had the potential for bringing incalculable prestige to Wales.

I agree that it cannot be denied that NBGW was established with an unrealistic business plan which assumed that it would be self financing within a short space of time.  The Welsh Assembly, however, in its unwillingness to bale it out, is extremely short-sighted, not only by denying this excellent facility to future researchers, schools and colleges, but also by denying the promotion of awareness of plants and the natural environment to the ordinary person.   Furthermore, this negative attitude is in contradiction to the Assembly’s commitment to the promotion of biodiversity and the conservation of the natural environment throughout Wales.  The annual cost to Wales would have been only £½ million: compare this to the cost of maintaining Kew at £20m per annum or RBG Edinburgh at £6m; a bargain by any standard.

The National Assembly is being handed a gem on a plate.  It needs to have the foresight to grasp this opportunity  before the chance is lost.  There is still time for Nats members to write to their AM to press for the Assembly’s support in ensuring that the Garden is not lost.