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Terry Bane, Bradley Simmonds and The Friends of Norwich in Bloom started to develop the Norfolk Heritage Crocosmia collection in 2003 when David and Colleen Fenwick from Plymouth visited Norwich to donate corms and help plant up the Noverre garden at The Assembly House with volunteers. David and Colleen packed their car with around 53 species and Cultivars and in total about 1,000 corms for the project just managing to squeeze some luggage and their selves in as well.
The Fenwick's brought two pots of very special Crocosmia hybrids with them recently named David Fitt, these hybrids were bred and raised from seed by David Fenwick and named after David Fitt son of Jack Fitt who was the only member of the Fitt family not to have a Crocosmia hybrid named after him by his father Jack, Norwich is greatly honoured to have one of the very first David Fitt hybrids planted in the heritage garden.
The Norwich and Norfolk Crocosmia Heritage Garden was formally opened on Saturday August 2nd 2003 by Jack Fitt’s oldest son Peter and his family we also held perhaps the first National Crocosmia Challenge Competition for the Best 6 stems of Crocosmia in a vase, a competition trophy named in honour of the Fitt family.
Brothers David and Peter Fitt present the Fitt Trophy to winner Britt Taylor in 2003
Project leaders Terry Bane and Ian Dabson decided in 2008 to lift and split the hybrids as they had grown so well, the opportunity allowed the garden to be refurbished and incorporate exotic plants, ornamental grasses and spring flowering bulbs. |
David and Colleen Fenwick (far left) in the Norwich and Norfolk Heritage Garden with members of The Friends of Norwich in Bloom in 2003
Surplus Crocosmia were potted and grown on to be planted at The Norfolk College of Agriculture and Horticulture, Easton College, near Norwich as a historical botanical learning aid for students and to sustain and promote the heritage collection.
In 2008 a special information display was created as part of the RHS UK Britain in Bloom competition "Local Roots" theme to show the history, people and development of Crocosmia's in Norfolk, all the information was provided by David and Colleen Fenwick through their research and personal items on loan from Jack Fitt's family.
To view the list of hybrids currently in The Norwich and Norfolk Heritage Garden CLICK HERE
If you would like to support the project please contact: Terry Bane Norwich City Council, City Hall, St. Peters Street, Norwich Norfolk NR2 1NH or to email terry CLICK HERE
To find out more about Crocosmia
Visit David and Colleen’s Fenwick's website
and Mark Foxes website |
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