Madeira’s Jardim Orquídea destroyed by fire

A collection of 50,000 orchids was destroyed on 8 August 2016 by fires which also damaged over 200 houses in Madeira. The Jardim Orquídea in Funchal dates back 110 years and had been maintained over four generations of the Pregetter family. It was considered to be one of the largest private collections in the world, with many of the specimens extinct elsewhere. Only 2,000 plants are thought to be recoverable and the future of the garden remains uncertain.

Richard Turner is part of the team behind the excellent guidebook, Madeira in a nutshell, and has set up a crowd-funding appeal to raise £50,000 to assist the restoration of Jardim Orquídea. An ambitious target, but as Richard says, it is only £1 per orchid.

If you would like to help by making a donation please visit the JustGiving page before 12 September 2016 at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/jardim-orchidea

Alternatively, donations made be made direct to the garden at www.madeira-orchid.eu/