PLEASE NOTE THIS SESSION WILL NOT BE RECORDED
An Introduction to the genus Helleborus from the National Collection held at Hazles Cross Farm Nursery in Staffordshire.
Mike Byford is holder of the Hellebore National Collection and owner of Hazles Cross Farm Nursery in Staffordshire. With a scientific background, starting with a BSc in Biology, majoring in Forestry and Wood Science with Earth Sciences, followed by a Masters in Medical Science and a PGCE in Science, Mike was a director of a global biochemical company and then quit after 13 years to become a sports coach and teacher of Biology and Chemistry – called poverty and insanity - but fun!
He has worked with hellebores for over 35 years, starting with Helleborus hybrids and breeding his own programmes from the early work by Strangman and Ballard. He has stayed in touch with both families. He developed many of the earliest semi-double forms and has worked on shape, form and colour. It is still very much a hobby and passion and not a commercial enterprise with sales being used to cover costs.
Mike has studied species hellebores for 15 years with trips into the wild and breeding from wild collected seed.
See Mikes website for more information
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