RHS Wisley Plant Society Weekend
EBTS UK is a member of the RHS Plant Society and this year, for the first time in a while, we had a stand at their event at RHS Wisley. The marquee was setup right next to the main cafe so there were lots of people checking out the various societies and what they do, from the Hardy Plant Society to the British Lichen Society and our neighboring stands the British Conifer Society & the Cyclamen Society.
The EBST UK stand focused on getting information out to the public about Box Moth & Caterpillars, and tried to overcome the mis-information fed by the media that you should dig up and replace your box plants. This is both expensive and not necessary as the plants will almost certainly grow back. We handed out nearly a thousand booklets on the subject and also did two talks explaining what actions can be taken to keep your box safe from the pest.
The RHS Wisley Plant Centre lent us some slightly shaggy box spirals, so we gave them a trim to show how to keep things looking smart – the shop should be able to increase the price now!
Chris Poole, Chairman EBTS UK gave a talk on box tree moths & caterpillars and also demonstrated how to get the best out of a slightly overgrown buxus spiral from a garden centre.