SECURITY has been tightened at a world-famous Hampshire garden after rare plants were stolen in overnight raids.

A new high wire boundary fence has been put up at the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens in Ampfield near Romsey and motion cameras installed in newly-planted areas.

It follows a growing number of rare plant thefts from the Hampshire County Council gardens created in 1953 by Sir Harold Hillier who died in 1985.

Botanist Barry Clarke believes professional plant collectors could be behind the thefts at the 72 hectare site off Jermyns Lane which is home to the largest collection of hardy trees and shrubs in the world.

One of the stolen plants was a rare illicium henryi Star of Anise bush which originates from western China.

“It was a small newly planted shrub. A lot of the plants that we have here were donated to us because we are a conservation garden.

“Plants are sporadically stolen and it is often after they have just been planted. It’s mainly small trees and shrubs that go missing during the planting season. The Star of Anise bush was rare,” said Mr Clarke, pointing out that at least half a dozen peonies that were planted near the Centenary Border were stolen one night.

Rare evergreen mahonias shrubs native to eastern Asia, the Himalayas, North and Central America donated by the garden’s former curator Roy Lancaster have also been taken in overnight raids.

Snowdrops which are protected in the wild have also been dug up by plant pilferers and some of the varieties are rare.

Mr Clarke said the new fencing also helps stop deer foraging in the garden.

He also said that TV gardening programmes have resulted in people becoming more interested in gardening which could explain the increasing thefts.

Around a dozen motion cameras have now been installed amongst beds where plants are growing in a bid to deter potential thieves.