Worcester Community Garden joined the Heritage Seed Library (HSL) in October 2025. The HSL, run by Garden Organic, maintains the national collection of heritage and heirloom vegetables, holding more than 800 varieties of seeds, including rare varieties adapted to specific growing conditions, heirloom seed varieties saved over generations and varieties no longer available to buy.
The HSL is a vital resource to connect people with heritage and heirloom seed, keep these varieties alive and increase biodiversity. Much of our cultivated biodiversity – including vegetable seeds we grow to eat – has been in decline. Over the last century, we have lost many hundreds of local vegetable varieties, grown for generations by seed companies, families and communities. Factors adding to this decline include intensive production of a reduced number of species, industrialisation of agriculture and food processing, seed regulations and loss of open-pollinated, traditional varieties.
For 2026, we have chosen over 20 heritage seeds to grow. Each month we will share news about the heritage seeds we are growing and our partnership with the Heritage Seed Library.
Heritage Seed of the Month
June 2026 – Melon ‘Cantalun’
Originally from the Vilmorin Seed House, this Charentais-type melon produces round fruits, approximately 12-15cm in diameter and just under 1kg in weight. The orange flesh is sweet and juicy; one Heritage Seed Library member described it as “…utterly delicious, the nicest melon we have ever eaten.”
We have four melon Cantalun plants growing in our greenhouse and we are all looking forward to tasting them!