In the Right Place and at the Right Time
Lately there is much controversy surrounding wild flowers and their seeds. I’m writing this blog to help lay a foundation for the sensible, practical use of wild flower seeds and to highlight the work of the European Native Seed Producers Association.
Different sites have different needs. Sometimes a site will need to use seed and sometimes what’s there already is best.
The Right Seed The problem – Any person – shop, supplier, project leader can buy in seeds from the EU (and also the rest of the world under specific conditions) of species that are native here, and perfectly legally sell them as “Native wildflower species”. The grey area that they are native species – just not from the island of Ireland.
Using seed of native species, but that comes from overseas is potentially causing damage to our native flora. When that damage occurs, it is irreversible. It is called hybridisation.
For example the genus Hyacinthoides, our native non-scripta has been hybridised with hispanica to such an extent that i have rarely seen examples in the wild now that don’t appear hybridised. It is now illegal to sell and grow Hyacinthoides hispanica and Hyacinthoides non-scripta is protected by law, but the damage is done and it’s too late.
Compounding that error, we still see garden centres selling Spanish bluebell and people refusing to remove this Schedule 9 (Wildlife Act NI) https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisi/1985/171/schedule/9 from their gardens.
Similarly the species Lotus corniculatus – classed in NI as a fodder species, it is widely imported in farming mixes. The resulting hybrids behave differently with flowering times incongruous with our pollinators timings.
You’d be forgiven for wishing that as an island, that the government would give all plants the above protection, before it’s too late. I have asked for it in the past. But i am told free trade is more important. It is not more important, nor is it more valuable than our natural capital. Our Natural Capital is unique in the world and that makes it priceless.
How can you tell if the seeds are from the island of Ireland? Trust. You have to find out from your poropsed supplier ask “What is the origin of your seed?”
Germany in March 2020 introduced laws that prohibit the importation of non-native-origin wild flower species. The country has been divided into environmental regions and seed must not pass between regions – seed producers must sell seed to a region that has originally come from the same.
Native seed producers have had to restructure their businesses to comply and it was tough for them. But now species variation and the web of life that depends upon them are protected from importation.
As an island we have a unique opportunity to protect our flora.
Be-aware, the word provenance is used, but. Provenance is not the same as Origin. For example, the potatoes i grew in my garden are local provenance, but their origin is most usually South America.
Buy seeds of native Irish-origin, for conservation and help STOP hybridisation problems with local wild populations.
Avoid mixes that contain Schedule 8/Red List protected species.
Hybridisation of protected species will wipe them from existance just as fast as farming or climate change. Many foriegn seed mixes have Geranium pratense, another of our Schedule 8 flowers, known here as the Blue Flower of Dunluce and occuring on the north coast. A misplaced foreign imported seed mixture could easily see hybridisation occur and our wee flower is hybridised. The only way to get hybridisation out of a population, is wipe out the hybrids and replant from a seed bank in another area, because remember the soil seed bank will now hold hybridised seed – or at least you can’t be sure. This process needs to be scientifically done and backed up by DNA testing. Much simpler to ban imports from overseas.
The Right Place
- Seed bombs are a nuisance (at best). Vice-country recorders give up their valuable time to record plants every year. Making new discoveries isn’t what it used to be…
- Leaving your area to see what comes up isn’t a bad policy and sometimes it works, look at all those lovely orchids!! But hang on, i got docks, brambles, ragwort and thistles, aren’t they Schedule 9s? So now you need a different approach. What size is your area, a flowerbed, an acre, a farm? What machinery do you have, labour, cash?
Now, who can i ask… Internet? Done that, confusing. Local seed producer – they were too busy to talk to me… - Look around your local area, buy a wild flower guide (I use Francis Rose and also Clive Stace), see what’s there already. You can be sure your insects know, they’re not stupid buzzers after all. Mimic your natural environment. Check the BSBI online atlas, join your local BSBI group, go on outings with botanists.
- For small areas look at THS’ “Collection guide” published by All Ireland Pollinator Plan, give it a second to load, our website will soon be under development for the better. Or buy seed from yours truly in the shop on this site, help keep me in a job and i will keep supplying wild flower seed of native Irish origin.
- For big areas… Bring in a habitat restoration contractor, there is one in the north who grow their own seed, i should know, i’ve watched them for years. Ecoseeds.
The Right Time
- The time is now, but... Our island is awash with seed of our native species coming in from overseas. Start a seed rebellion in your area and insist on native-Irish-origin seed.
- When to seed? This is a big question. Look at nature, take a que from her. She sheds millions of seeds and some take. If you have a small packet of seed, sow them in a seed tray and protect them until they’re big enough to go out.
- Sowing a large area. The weather plays a huge part, particularly the rain. Sow just before it rains. When the soil has warmed up.
European Native Seed Producers Association (E.N.S.P.A.)
At the end of a NASTEC conference hosted in Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank in 2016 some native wild flower seed producers from different European countries had an idea to start an association of like minded seed producers. After a visit to Germany in 2018, Debbie, on behalf of True Harvest Seeds, joined in the effort.
The organisation became constituted in 2020, registered in Austria. Debbie represents the island of Ireland on committee. https://native-seed.eu
Part of the process included development of a code of conduct that our members sign up to and pledge to uphold.
If you are a native seed producer you can apply to join E.N.S.P.A. Check the code of conduct to check eligibility. Decisions are made by the board.
For an application form email debbie@trueharvestseeds.org and one will be sent out to you. Please put “E.N.S.P.A. membership” in the subject line.