Supporting Rare Plant Conservation

cwhittall4
Apr 17
3 min read

Client

Robbie Blackhall-Miles, pioneering horticulturist, conservationist at Plantlife, and guardian of one of the UK’s rarest plant collections.

Background

In the quiet hills of North Wales, Robbie Blackhall-Miles has spent the last decade cultivating and protecting some of the rarest and most endangered plants in Britain. His work recently made national headlines when he successfully reintroduced the rosy saxifrage (Saxifraga rosacea) - a delicate mountain plant once declared extinct in the wild - to its native habitat in Snowdonia.

The reintroduction, done in partnership with the National Trust and Natural Resources Wales, marks a historic moment for British biodiversity and represents the culmination of years of patient conservation - much of which took place under the protection of a Keder Greenhouse.

The Challenge

Maintaining extremely rare plants, especially those nearly extinct in the wild, is no ordinary gardening feat. These plants often have highly specific microclimatic needs - from precise temperature and humidity conditions to protection from pests and illegal collectors.

Robbie’s nursery, tucked away in an undisclosed location in North Wales, holds plants so rare that no insurance company will cover them. One specimen alone is “one of only 30 trees left in the world.”

It became essential for Robbie to have a growing environment that was not only secure and durable, but also climate-resilient and adaptable to the ever-changing weather patterns of rural Wales.

Our Solution: Keder Ultimate Growing Environment

In 2016 Keder Greenhouse delivered a bespoke Ultimate Growing environment to Robbie's nursery. Built with our signature Keder bubble insulation system, this structure provides:

High Thermal R Value, offering year-round protection from extreme weather fluctuations - critical for mountain species adapted to cool, stable conditions.
Highly diffused natural light, perfect for nurturing delicate seedlings without the stress of direct sun exposure.
Tightly controlled microclimates, allowing for the precise cultivation of multiple rare species in different zones.
Incredibly robust, while still being sustainable and low maintenance.
Privacy, the Keder cladding provides an element of privacy in the greenhouse.

This greenhouse became the heartbeat of Robbie’s conservation work, providing the perfect conditions to propagate the rosy saxifrage - a species not seen in the wild since 1962.

Impact

· 🌱 Reintroduction of a Native Species

In 2025, after 60 years in cultivation and with the help of his Keder greenhouse, Robbie returned the rosy saxifrage to its original home in Cwm Idwal, Snowdonia. It’s one of the most significant UK plant reintroductions in decades.

· 🌍 Preservation of National Biodiversity

The project stands as a beacon of hope for the one in six species in the UK currently threatened with extinction, proving that with the right tools and dedication, restoration is possible.

💬 “In Welsh, we have a wonderful word, adferiad, which means restitution or restoration,” said Robbie. “I’m absolutely over the moon.”

Looking Forward

At Keder Greenhouse, we’re proud to support conservationists like Robbie - quietly working behind the scenes to safeguard Britain’s natural heritage, one plant at a time. His story isn’t just about a single flower. It’s about resilience, science, passion - and what’s possible when human care meets the right technology.

We're honoured to play even a small part in this remarkable journey, and we look forward to supporting many more plant heroes like Robbie in the future.