You do not need to donate seeds in order to receive them and it is all done on an expenses only basis. The societies are worthwhile joining just for these seed lists, though they also have much more to offer the gardener. Another way in which we have sometimes received seed is from people who have gone abroad on business trips or for holidays. Sometimes they have come across interesting catalogues and have sent a copy back to us, or have sent us some of the seeds from the catalogue. At other times they have collected seeds from domesticated plants or from the wild and sent them back to us.
Seed collecting from the wild has to be done with care, however.
Firstly, most countries have legal restrictions on seed collecting and you need to be aware of this. Secondly, seed collecting from the wild should only be carried out with sensitivity for the environment. Under no circumstances should wild populations be threatened by overcollecting, though if the plants are going to be destroyed in some sort of development project then you can feel free to take as much as you like. This is an area where you might be able to help us. If you are travelling to some area of the world with a climate not too dissimilar to Britain's then you might be able to source seed suppliers or even obtain seeds for us.