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heritage seed library

November 8, 2012 8:52 am by Tim Willmott : Comments Off on heritage seed library

The Heritage Seed Library (HSL) sends out 40,000 plus packets of seeds containing rare and endangered varieties to its members and others every year. In this way vegetable varieties that are not widely available and may be threatened are conserved and brought back to prominence.

The scheme is operated by Garden Organic, a UK charity for organic growing (formerly Henry Doubleday Research Association), and all of these seeds are available to members.

The HSL Department maintains a collection, mainly of European varieties, which over the decades have been dropped from popular seed catalogues. Their collection contains many of these but also some landraces and a large number of family heirloom varieties that have never been in a catalogue.

Saffron Walden CB11 4JG UK
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Henry Doubleday research Foundation, Saffron Walden, UK
Audley End, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11 4JG, UK (Directions)

Saffron Walden CB11 4JG UK
52.024068, 0.215969
Henry Doubleday research Foundation, Saffron Walden, UKAudley End, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11 4JG, UK (Directions)

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Article by Tim Willmott

Tim is the creator of sustainapedia.com and heads digital publisher Treading Lightly. His interests include nature and wild places, cooking, film, sport and music. He is a poet, writer and commentator.

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