Ethical vitamin company Viridian Nutrition has partnered with sustainable gardening charity Garden Organic to safeguard the future of a valuable herb.
Garden Organic is home to the National Collection of Comfrey (Symphytum). This Plant
Heritage status gives recognition to the charity’s work in developing and preserving 30
varieties of the herb over several decades.
Viridian is sponsoring the continued growth of the collection at the charity’s home at
Ryton Gardens, Coventry.
Holly Thallon Steenson, Managing Director at Viridian, said: “Viridian and Garden
Organic share the same core principles of embracing organic growing by focusing on
practices that enhance soil health and plant nutrition by avoiding, pesticides and
synthetic chemicals.
“For Viridian, it’s important to help preserve this comfrey collection which has rightly
so been placed in the charity’s care for many future generations to enjoy. We’re
delighted to continue working with Garden Organic on this preservation programme.”
A traditionally used herb, comfrey has been found in multiple scientific studies to
benefit human health and is one of the core ingredients in Viridian’s organic range of
nutritional supplements, balms and serums.
Corin Sadler, nutritional therapist at Viridian explains: “Comfrey is a herb with a long
history of use, topically for the skin. The herb is rich in allantoin which promotes
wound healing by encouraging new cell growth. The botanical also contains rosmarinic
acid which acts to reduce inflammation and has historically been used as a balm for
damaged and sore muscles, sprains, ligaments and bones.”
For Garden Organic, comfrey is at the heart of the charity, which has been growing the
herb throughout its 65-year history – well before being awarded National Collection
status.
Comfrey has long been prized by gardeners for its valuable nutrients, which include
nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, creating a natural organic fertiliser for many
flowering and fruiting plants.
Emma O’Neill, head gardener at Garden Organic, said: “Comfrey is a gardener’s ally, not
only providing a useful feed but also acting as a compost activator, mulch and
pollinator attractant. Every garden should have one!”
