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Plant Hunters Robbed by Machete Gang in Central America
24 May
Summary
- Couple collecting exotic plants were robbed by machete-wielding gangsters.
- They discovered hundreds of unknown plants and introduced 4,000 varieties.
- Their nursery has now received a royal warrant from King Charles.
Sue and Bleddyn Wynn Jones, a couple from Caernarfon, Gwynedd, have recounted harrowing experiences during their decades-long global quest to collect exotic plants. While traveling through Central America, they were targeted by machete-wielding gangsters, and in Mexico, soldiers pilfered their belongings, with police threatening arrest when the thefts were reported. Bleddyn recalled a 2001 incident in Guatemala where robbers threatened him with knives and stole his watch and camera. Despite these dangers, their expeditions have been incredibly fruitful.
The couple has discovered hundreds of previously unknown plant species and introduced over 4,000 cultivated varieties to the UK, including a new lily species and a potential new witch hazel. Their work has transformed their 200-acre beef farm into Crȗg Farm Plants Nursery, a horticultural marvel. This dedication has now been recognized with a royal warrant from King Charles, acknowledging the nursery's 30-year service to royal estates like Buckingham Palace.
