We’ve been learning about seed banks!

As s a natural perfume company who is committed to respecting nature and the earth, we were fascinated to learn about something that is apparently covered in A level biology! We missed that learning, following our interests in art and languages and we are therefore perhaps a little late to the party, but nevertheless, what a wonderful thing to learn all about SEED BANKS!

Seed banks saving rare plant species

When there are terrible fires in Australia, have you ever stopped to think about all the flora and fauna that gets destroyed? Some of it forever? We hadn’t either and were so fascinated to learn about what happens next. Fortunately, there are seed banks across the world (more than 1000 of them) that store thousands of seeds from all sorts of plants, from everyday vegetables and edibles to rare plant species. They are kept at optimum temperatures so that they, when needed can be planted and grown again. So when large areas of a rare, almost extinct clover glycine were burnt in Australia, the Millennium Seed Bank in Kew Gardens was able to help re-establish the plant.

the millennium seed bank

The Millennium Seed Bank is one of the largest in the world and holds almost 2.4 billion seeds from around 40,000 varieties including almost all the UK’s native trees and plants.

Seed banks exist to insure against the disappearance or of plant species due to a variety of threats including;

Pollution

Habitat loss

Pests and disease

Climate change

With such threats on the increase and realising the importance of a wide range of bio diversity and a strong and healthy eco system, seed banks are essential to ensuring that many plant species don’t become extinct and that they are restored and regenerated.

A recent study estimated that 40% of plant species are threatened with extinction, making the existence of seed banks even more critical. These plants are vital as they also maintain the biodiversity of butterflies, insects and fungi.

Longevity

Seeds can be kept for thousands of years if they are looked after correctly. The oldest carbon-14 seed of a Judean date palm was around 2000 years old

The Botanic garden of Wales

The Welsh Botanic Gardens, near Carmarthen was set up more recently in 2018 to ensure the continuation of all the rare species of flora in Wales as well as collaborating with the Millennium seed bank. They even sell some of their harvested wild flower seeds from yellow rattles, great burnets and eyebright so that you can both support their work and enjoy these meadow flowers in your own garden. Have a little look here.

Indian Seed banks

India is home to numerous seed banks, including Navdanya, a leading NGO advocating for biodiversity conservation. Led by Navdanya Shiva, it has helped set up 54 seed banks. As well as promoting biodiversity, they support cultural diversity - you can read more about Indian seed banks and Navdanya here

We hope you find seed banks as fascinating as we do!

You can read more about Kew Gardens’ Millennium Seed Bank here.