Re Chris Smith’s article (I don’t want to die with a freezer full of seeds. Biodiversity and preservation need rethinking, 2 April), the Heritage Seed Library (HSL) based at Ryton Organic Gardens in Warwickshire has been encouraging its members to conserve seeds in their own gardens since the 1970s.
The HSL, set up by Lawrence D Hills, was ahead of its time and is still going strong with 800 varieties safely stored – either local or discontinued by seed firms – but also regularly grown. Each year its members can choose from 100 rare varieties, and HSL seed guardians grow larger amounts for seed to ensure there are stocks for the future. Local seeds adapt to local conditions and may be more resilient in our changing climate, as Smith points out.
Judy Steele
Radford Semele, Warwickshire
• Liz of Bury St Edmunds, who says her bush lily (Clivia miniata), acquired in 1987, “has thrived but is very temperamental when it comes to flowering” (‘The leaves fall off – but I think that’s normal’: the houseplants you just can’t kill, 3 April), should try placing it in a cold, frost-free place for a couple of months in the middle of the winter, watering it very sparingly. This often triggers flowering when the plant is then returned to a warm room and watered regularly. This also applies to Hippeastrum, often known as amaryllis.
Shirley Neish
Bookham, Surrey
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