THEY are well known for their long lifespan, with some reaching 200-years-old .

But thousands of cacti are at risk of becoming homeless as they outlive their owners.

Luckily, the Glasgow Branch of the British Cactus and Succulent Society is helping to rehome cacti and succulents that have been left behind by their members.

Last weekend they sold off more than 250 plants left behind by a woman from Lanark who died recently.

The plants were sold for £1-£3, which will help to pay for the group's outings and celebrations.

Branch president Hamish McKelvie, 79, who has more than 2000 cacti and succulents in his greenhouses beside his home in Houston, Renfrewshire, said the plants changed hands frequently as members passed away or got too frail to look after them.

He said: "It seems a pity to throw out plants.

"If one of our members dies we always take the plants and store them, before organising a sale.

"It sound quite morbid and it is very sad when someone dies. But it's nice to see them go to a new home.

"We had one couple who died within a few years of each other and they had 3000 plants in three greenhouses."

Grandad-of-two Mr McKelvie, who lives with wife Mary, 77, the secretary of the branch, has been a member since 1972.

He became interested in cacti after buying some for a shilling each at the Royal Highland Show when he was a boy.

Mr McKelvie gave them to his mum, who gifted them back to him in a shoebox after he got married.

His vast collection includes plants from Mexico, Texas, California, Canary Islands, East Africa, Chile, Peru and Bolivia.

Among his favourites is a cactus given to him by a woman who bought it in Woolworths in 1936.

Another cactus, which Mr McKelvie acquired from another collector, grew from seed - and is likely to reach 30ft.

He said: "They're all various ages. They reckon some of the big cacti can reach 200-300-years-old."

The former farmer says he has no idea how many plants are in his collection - but they will go to new homes in the future.

He said: "The kids are always asking me but I've no idea. I always say about 2000.

"The cacti are always passing hands.

"One of our members died a young man in Hamilton and we sold his plants in a sale and they went all over Scotland.

"I've still got his plants.

"I'll pass them on in time and somebody else will have them."

There are about 80 members of the Glasgow branch, and around 20-30 attend the regular meetings.

However, Mr McKelvie says numbers are dwindling.

They hope a new generation of cacti and succulent enthusiasts will join their ranks.

"It would be nice to see some juniors," he said.

INFO

A cactus sale will take place at the Orchid Fair at Glasgow Botanic Gardens, May 16-17.

The annual show of the Glasgow Branch of the British Cactus and Succulent Society takes place June 6-7.