PRECIOUS heirloom vegetable seeds and their stories from a Warwickshire charity are set to be preserved for 100 years as part of The King’s Foundation’s 35th anniversary time capsule.
The time capsule on display at The King’s Foundation Awards ceremony at St James’s Palace, London. Picture by Ian Jones PhotographyHeritage beans, peas and tomato seeds from Garden Organic’s Heritage Seed Library will be buried in a special oak capsule – and not opened until 2125 – as part of the anniversary celebrations of The King’s Foundation.
It couldn’t have come at a better time for the Ryton-based Heritage Seed Library, as the living library celebrates its 50th birthday between October 2025 and 2026.
The five heritage vegetables seeds, part of the National Collection of Heritage Vegetables, have been specially selected to be part of the time capsule project. They have previously been grown in the gardens at Dumfries House in Ayrshire, Scotland, the headquarters of The King’s Foundation – founded by The King in 1990.
The King, Garden Organic’s Patron, launched the time capsule project earlier this year by placing the first items – his secateurs and a personal letter.
During 2025, The Foundation is collecting other items for the capsule to represent its achievements and legacy.
Catrina Fenton, head of the Heritage Seed Library, said: “It’s an absolute honour to have five of our heritage vegetables from our National Collection included in the time capsule.
“They have been carefully selected to reflect the four King’s Foundation historic sites in Scotland and England and include a French bean that was conserved by the Heritage Seed Library in 1990, the same year the Foundation was established.
“The work of the Foundation and The King in promoting and protecting sustainability, heritage skills and nature closely aligns with our own, so we’re delighted to be involved in this unique and exciting project.”
The seeds which will be preserved in the time capsule – left to right: Beetroot Dobbies Purple, French Bean Veitchs Climbing, Runner Bean Gramp Nicolls, and Pea Alex.Pam Whittle CBE, Garden Organic vice president and former president of The Caley, Scotland’s horticultural society, said it was important to act today to ensure a diversity of seeds in the future.
She added: “I would love to know, perhaps even grow, what my grandparents were growing 100 years ago.”
Over the past 35 years, The King’s Foundation has started community regeneration projects and education programmes in traditional skills, as well as advocating for living in harmony with nature.
Julie Dougall, education gardener at The King’s Foundation, said: “We’re pleased to have worked with Garden Organic’s Heritage Seed Library for many years at our headquarters at Dumfries House.
“The contribution of five heritage seeds to our anniversary time capsule is a reminder of our shared values in preserving horticultural heritage.”
Visit www.gardenorganic.org.uk for more information about Garden Organic and the Heritage Seed Library.
