Our green pledge at The Firs
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As part of our green pledge work in the museum five of us from the Collections team went to The Firs (The University of Manchester’s experimental garden).
Our job was re-potting the economic plants from a display in one of the greenhouses. Above, Henry and David mixing compost in the potting shed.
We explored the greenhouses while we were there, and came across this impressive staghorn fern (Platycerium bifurcatum). Below, carnivorous plants Venus Flytrap and a sundew, and the cactus house.
Being away from the workplace and out in the sunshine (although it was very, very cold) made it a great morning’s work. I enjoyed working with living plants, getting my hands dirty, and working with different people. The Firs is a wonderful place to visit.
Botany volunteer Barbara Porter donated her rare fern collection to the Firs when she died. It was good to see the bench dedicated to her.
Lindsey and botany intern Alyssa repotting lemongrass plants.
Herbology Manchester 
December 3, 2012 at 11:39 am
Sorry I couldn’t have been there (too cold I’m afraid!)
December 3, 2012 at 2:57 pm
Well if we go again in the warmer months we’ll invite you then! Have you been for a visit yet?
December 4, 2012 at 9:23 am
No not yet. Heard it’s well worth a visit though! I went to Tatton Park recently and saw their recently renovated ‘pinery’. I could work in there because it’s quite warm!
December 3, 2012 at 1:57 pm
Well done on your repotting efforts!
The stag’s horn fern in the hanging basket in your photo is also a fern from MM volunteer Barbara Porter’s collection. We have had it now for 4 years and it still looks good.
Yvonne
December 14, 2012 at 1:14 pm
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