Heritage Seed Library

23/05/2026

We've got a bumper selection of tomatoes in the Heritage Seed Library polytunnels this year. Among them are two new varieties 'Orange Hat' and 'Miranda' - which are part of our new trials. 'Orange Hat' grows to only 20cm tall, with delicious, tiny, bright orange fruits!

As a living and dynamic collection, we actively find, assess and conserve rediscovered heritage varieties each year. We'll typically reintroduce five to 10 heritage varieties, conducting growing trials and evaluating before adding to the National Collection, ensuring they're securely conserved for future generations.

If you'd like to learn more about our seed trials, or become a member, visit 👉
https://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/what-we-do/hsl/this-years-heritage-seed-library-seed-trials

Garfield Weston Foundation

12/05/2026

Our lettuces are flourishing in this warmer weather. This year, we're saving seed from 'Hicks Hardy Winter White' and 'Amish Deer Tongue'. And of course, we always have the colourful 'Bloody Warrior' in our Collection - so named due to the red splatter on its leaves. 🩸

Find out more a bout our National Collection of Heritage Vegetables and how to support our work in our 50th year at www.gardenorganic.org.uk/hsl.

Garfield Weston Foundation

01/05/2026

We’re hoping for a glimpse of our Heritage Seed Library seeds on CBBC's Blue Peter this evening – as the programme awards his Majesty The King with a coveted green badge for services to the environment.

The King, who is patron of Garden Organic, will appear alongside a time capsule at Dumfries House in Ayrshire – created to celebrate The King’s Foundation 35th anniversary – which includes our living library's precious heritage vegetable seeds.

Heritage beans, peas and tomato seeds from our living library will be buried in the special oak capsule – and not opened until 2125 – as part of the anniversary celebrations of The King's Foundation. They have previously been grown in the gardens at Dumfries House, the headquarters of The King’s Foundation - founded by King Charles in 1990.

Keep your eyes peeled for our seeds! 🫘This episode will be broadcast on CBBC tonight, Friday 1 May, at 5pm, and available on BBC iPlayer.

28/04/2026

She might live on an exposed hill, 850ft above sea level in Pembrokeshire – but this hasn’t dampened our Seed Guardian Marie's passion for seed saving! This week, she'll be sowing our Heritage Seed Library seed relay seeds at her smallholding on the top of the Preseli hills, after receiving our golden 50th anniversary packet.

Marie said: “I’ve been so impressed by the work of the Heritage Seed Library - and it’s fantastic to have the opportunity to play a tiny part in such a hugely important project. The golden envelope arrived safely with its treasure of seed packets, and I’ve sown the tomato seeds. All the others are winging their way onwards!"

Next stop: Ceredigion and resilient GYO expert and editor Kim Stoddart. 🏃‍♀️‍➡️

To find out more about our Heritage Seed Library seed relay visit gardenorganic.org.uk/hsl-50-anniversary.



Efallai ei bod hi'n byw ar fryn agored, 850 troedfedd uwchben lefel y môr yn Sir Benfro - ond nid yw hyn wedi lleihau angerdd ein Gwarcheidwad Hadau Marie dros arbed hadau! Yr wythnos hon, bydd hi'n hau hadau ras gyfnewid hadau ein Llyfrgell Hadau Treftadaeth yn ei thyddyn bach ar ben bryniau'r Preseli, ar ôl derbyn ein pecyn pen-blwydd aur yn 50 oed.

Dywedodd Marie: “Rwyf wedi fy argraffu cymaint gan waith Llyfrgell Hadau Treftadaeth - ac mae'n wych cael y cyfle i chwarae rhan fach mewn prosiect mor bwysig. Cyrhaeddodd yr amlen aur yn ddiogel gyda'i thrysor o becynnau hadau, ac rwyf wedi hau'r hadau tomato. Mae'r lleill i gyd yn mynd ymlaen yn gyflym!"

Y stop nesaf: Ceredigion a'r arbenigwr a golygydd GYO gwydn Kim Stoddart. 🏃‍♀️‍➡️

I gael gwybod mwy am ein ras gyfnewid hadau Llyfrgell Hadau Treftadaeth ewch i gardenorganic.org.uk/hsl-50-anniversary.

23/04/2026

Just look at these lovely red orach seedlings, grown by a participant at one of our seed saving workshops recently! 🩷

The workshop, in collaboration with Transition Worcester Community Garden shared the story of our red orach seeds - one of the varieties identified through our project, funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

We're so excited to see our precious heritage seeds being grown!

21/04/2026

Come and soak up our organic garden and Heritage Seed Library this spring and summer!

🦋Garden open day: 25 April
🥕Open days in support of the National Garden Scheme 11 July & 12 September
🫘Heritage Seed Library tours: 27 June & 19 September

Find out more and book at gardenorganic.org.uk/events or via the links in our Link Tree.

14/04/2026

We're so delighted our Heritage Seed Library seed relay has arrived at Aberglasney Gardens. Based in Llangathen, Carmarthen, this beautiful garden includes the UK's only surviving Elizabethan Cloister Garden, as well as a veg-packed walled kitchen garden - where our seeds will be grown.

The team at Aberglasney said: "We're really proud to be a part of Garden Organic's unique Heritage Seed Relay to highlight the Library’s vitally important work safeguarding food security and genetic diversity. We've chosen to sow and grow dwarf French bean 'Golden Lumen' - and Hattie, our expert kitchen gardener, will be in charge of the precious seeds and will update you with progress."

Thank you Aberglasney and Folk Hattie (pictured) - we can't wait to see how they grow! Next stop: The National Botanic Garden of Wales 🏃‍♀️‍➡️

Rydym wrth ein bodd bod ras gyfnewid hadau ein Llyfrgell Hadau Treftadaeth wedi cyrraedd Gerddi Aberglasney. Wedi'i lleoli yn Llangathen, Caerfyrddin, mae'r ardd hardd hon yn cynnwys yr unig Ardd Cloestr Elisabethaidd sydd wedi goroesi yn y DU, yn ogystal â gardd gegin furiog lawn llysiau - lle bydd ein hadau'n cael eu tyfu.

Dywedodd y tîm yn Aberglasney: "Rydym yn falch iawn o fod yn rhan o Ras Gyfnewid Hadau Treftadaeth unigryw Garden Organic i dynnu sylw at waith hanfodol bwysig y Llyfrgell yn diogelu diogelwch bwyd ac amrywiaeth genetig. Rydym wedi dewis hau a thyfu ffa Ffrengig corrach 'Golden Lumen' - a Hattie, ein garddwr cegin arbenigol, fydd yn gyfrifol am yr hadau gwerthfawr a bydd yn rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i chi am y cynnydd."

Diolch i Aberglasney a Folk Hattie (yn y llun) - allwn ni ddim aros i weld sut maen nhw'n tyfu! Yr arhosfan nesaf: Gardd Fotaneg Genedlaethol Cymru 🏃‍♀️‍➡️

13/04/2026

Our Heritage Seed Library team will be giving a talk at Transition Worcester Community Garden about our project, funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Join us to learn more about seeds and stories in the Midlands, how you can take part, and learn how to sow (and take home) some red orach seeds.

More at https://worcestercommunitygarden.org.uk/event/heritage-seed-library-workshop/

13/04/2026

Ready, sow, grow! 🌱 Become a Garden Organic member before 30 April, 2026, and, as well as the usual great benefits – access to expert advice, free magazine, members’ discounts and more - we'll send you six free packets of easy-to-grow heritage veg. 🥕🥦🫑

Our free Ready, Sow, Grow kit will get your spring gardening off to a tasty start, with a Principles of Organic Gardening booklet plus heritage carrot, climbing French Bean, kale, pea, pepper and runner bean seeds.

Click here to find out more 👉https://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/what-we-do/hsl/ready-sow-grow

30/03/2026

Delighted to see our Seed Guardian Maggie Carr on BBC Gardeners World at the weekend. Maggie met with Sue Kent Gardening to give her a tour of her own seed library - The Incredible Seed Library - in Carmarthen.

Sue Kent gifted our member Maggie a packet of our Heritage Seed Library's 'Mrs McGhie's' amaranth to sow this season.

If you're feeling inspired and would like to know how to save seed of your own, please take a look at our advice https://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/expert-advice/garden-management/seed-saving.

There's also still time to join our Heritage Seed Library before our annual Seed List closes this week.

Watch the interview from 31 mins in. Head to https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002t6bk/gardeners-world-2026-episode-3

Monty is busy with spring and planning ahead for summer. He’s doing a seed-sowing masterclass, cutting back Cornus and dividing ferns to put in the new Woodland Garden.