Hidden amongst lush Welsh woods and fields of wildflowers, grows an assortment of rare vegetable varieties. They might look ordinary enough, but many have been saved from extinction.
The seed detective trying to save rare food crops
British horticulturalist Adam Alexander collects, grows and saves endangered vegetable varieties, in an effort to preserve the genetic diversity of edible crops.
Posted: Aug 4, 2021 3:11 PM
Posted By: CNN
Hidden amongst lush Welsh woods and fields of wildflowers, grows an assortment of rare vegetable varieties. They might look ordinary enough, but many have been saved from extinction.
Each variety has its own story. The Syrian long pepper was grown from seeds taken out of the country during its conflict in 2011. The Llanover pea was brought to Wales by a German prisoner of war after World War II as a gift for a maid he had fallen in love with.
Georgina Yates garden supervisor at Brodsworth Hall and Gardens near Doncaster, with Madeira maroon bean seeds. Picture: Tony Johnson
The gardens at Brodsworth, restored to their Victorian splendour, are home to a collection of grand gardens in miniature, with seasonal plantings and displays.
English Heritage, which took on the country estate in 1990, has teamed up with horticultural charity Garden Organic to help grow rare seed varieties in some of its historic gardens.
The charity, which over 40 years has ‘saved’ hundreds of rare vegetables from extinction, has donated a number of heirloom varieties to selected properties, with some gardeners signing up to become ‘guardians’, championing local varieties to return them to the library for future generations to enjoy.