The Heritage Seed Library aims to conserve as much biodiversity as it can and make as many varieties of vegetables available as possible. The Department maintains a collection, conducts research, campaigns and collates and distributes current and historical information. The Heritage Seed Library enables members of the public to share our goals and our accessions to grow out the seed themselves both for eating the produce and and saving of further seed. Our vehicle for conservation is a Seed Library which currently contains about 700 accessions, mostly open-pollinated vegetables. Details of these are available in an inventory text file.
Germination is tested regularly and seed stocks regenerated whenever necessary.
Each year we also grow about 100 varieties specifically to bulk up seed for distribution to members of the Heritage Seed Library. We send out a catalogue in December, from which members may select up to six varieties. The catalogue contents change from year to year so we also publish Seed Guardian Guidelines that offer simple instructions for saving seed of different crops. The Department continues actively to work to change the existing legal and economic framework in order to promote the availibility and utilisation of crop biodiversity. For information on how to join the Heritage Seed Library, click here .