Our hard-working Seed Guardians were announced as winners in the community category of the 12th Community Inspiration Awards this month.

The award recognises an individual or organisation that’s been helping to make positive improvements to the environment. The guardians were commended for the way their work gives people the agency to grow, save, breed, and develop the edible heirlooms and biodiversity of the future.

More than 200 seed saviours are nurturing heritage seeds and plants on their veg plots and sending them seed back to the Library. Here, they replenish and secure almost half of our 800-strong National Collection of Heritage Vegetables, which are passed on to current and future generations – supporting food security and plant diversity.

The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation estimates 75 per cent of crop diversity was lost between 1900 and 2000. In the face of biodiversity loss and challenges like climate change, preserving a wide range of species and varieties is crucial.

“Each heritage variety thriving under the care of a Seed Guardian expands our options for developing resilient plants,” says head of the HSL Catrina Fenton. “These dedicated volunteers produce approximately half of the seeds needed for conservation efforts each year - ensuring the continued existence of these varieties.”

The Community Inspiration Awards are organised by The Community Foundation, to recognise outstanding contributions made by staff from public and voluntary sector organisations, businesses and members of the community, whose efforts have made a positive difference in the community and have inspired and motivated others.

To find out more about the Heritage Seed Library head to gardenorganic.org.uk/hsl, where you can learn about becoming a Seed Guardian or become member of the library to support our work.