Prickly matter: boss of succulent society quits in row over sourcing of plants
The Guardian|April 27, 2024
A row has blown up in the UK’s leading succulent society over the practice of snatching desirable specimens from the wild , with the chairperson now resigning in protest over the behaviour of his fellow enthusiasts.
Helena Horton
Prickly matter: boss of succulent society quits in row over sourcing of plants

Succulents have been at the forefront of the rising popularity of pot plants in recent years; they’re both hardy and attractive . A succulent won the Royal Horticultural Society plant of the year award in 2022, while the plants have also become wildly popular in Asian countries, leading to a massive increase in demand.

But the drought-tolerant plants are often taken from the wild. South Africa is home to a third of the world’s succulent species, and a huge number of plants come from there, according to scientists. There is also a growing succulent-smuggling crisis in California, which hosts some rare types.

Some countries have taken drastic action, such as Mexico, where it is now illegal to take cacti out of the country .

Dr Gregory Bulmer, who chaired the British Cactus and Succulent Society (BCSS) since 2022, has said he can no longer remain in post because of the promotion of succulents dug up from their native habitats.

Bulmer had introduced a new policy requiring that plants which had been “removed from habitat ” – taken from the wild – not be exhibited or given prizes at BCSS shows.

Esta historia es de la edición April 27, 2024 de The Guardian.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición April 27, 2024 de The Guardian.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE THE GUARDIANVer todo
Thousands of people displaced as floods cause chaos in Kenya
The Guardian

Thousands of people displaced as floods cause chaos in Kenya

Kenya is grappling with floods that have killed 257 people across the east African nation, after weeks of torrential rainfall scientists have linked to the El Niño weather phenomenon.

time-read
1 min  |
May 11, 2024
Deepfake scam targets CEO of world's biggest ad firm
The Guardian

Deepfake scam targets CEO of world's biggest ad firm

The head of the world's biggest advertising group was the target of an elaborate deepfake scam involving an artificial intelligence voice clone.

time-read
2 minutos  |
May 11, 2024
No Ken do Blunt, stunts and Gosling: how did The Fall Guy flop?
The Guardian

No Ken do Blunt, stunts and Gosling: how did The Fall Guy flop?

On paper, it couldn't fail.

time-read
3 minutos  |
May 11, 2024
"Today we flee again' Palestinians seek safety from strikes on Rafah
The Guardian

"Today we flee again' Palestinians seek safety from strikes on Rafah

Under a blazing summer sun, tens of thousands of Palestinians fled Israeli bombardment and clashes with Hamas militants in Rafah yesterday, choking roads with carts, bicycles, pickup trucks and wheelchairs.

time-read
4 minutos  |
May 11, 2024
Style, but no substance? Dismay as Met Gala loses political edge
The Guardian

Style, but no substance? Dismay as Met Gala loses political edge

As pro-Palestinian protests unfolded blocks away, the Met Gala, which took place in New York on Monday evening, unfolded devoid of political statement.

time-read
3 minutos  |
May 11, 2024
Labour Is Starmer pushing party base too far?
The Guardian

Labour Is Starmer pushing party base too far?

Two days after defecting to Labour, the former Conservative Natalie Elphicke stood in front of a pure red backdrop as she introduced Keir Starmer in her Dover constituency - on the frontline of the battle over stopping small boat crossings.

time-read
3 minutos  |
May 11, 2024
NFU lobbied minister to increase amount of pesticides allowed in drinking water
The Guardian

NFU lobbied minister to increase amount of pesticides allowed in drinking water

The National Farmers' Union lobbied to increase the amount of pesticides allowed in the UK's drinking water and to allow farmers to spread manure more frequently as part of a post-Brexit loosening of environmental regulations, it can be revealed.

time-read
2 minutos  |
May 11, 2024
Are you kidding me? Italian island inundated with offers to adopt its roaming goats
The Guardian

Are you kidding me? Italian island inundated with offers to adopt its roaming goats

When the mayor of a remote Italian island grappling with an overpopulation of wild goats offered to give the animals away, he anticipated a smattering of interest from farmers on neighbouring isles who were perhaps keen to boost their production of ricotta cheese.

time-read
3 minutos  |
May 11, 2024
Service sector growth helps to pull UK out of recession
The Guardian

Service sector growth helps to pull UK out of recession

The UK is officially out of recession after figures showed that the economy grew by 0.6% in the first three months of the year.

time-read
3 minutos  |
May 11, 2024
Disunited in music Frustration and fury as Israel row clouds Eurovision
The Guardian

Disunited in music Frustration and fury as Israel row clouds Eurovision

The official motto of the 68th edition of Eurovision is “united by music”, but as the continent’s sequined masses descended on the Swedish city of Malmö for tonight’s grand final, music’s ability to heal and bridge divides was looking in serious doubt.

time-read
3 minutos  |
May 11, 2024