In a landmark move for plant conservation and food security in Ireland, the Irish Seed Savers Association (ISSA) is proud to announce a significant new partnership with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). This collaboration marks a historic step forward in our shared mission to protect Ireland’s rich horticultural heritage, with the establishment of a secure, off-site duplicate of the ISSA Fruit Tree Collection.

As climate change accelerates and threats to biodiversity become more acute, the imperative to protect our living collections has never been more urgent. Through this partnership, NPWS is providing land to house a full duplicate of the ISSA Fruit Tree Collection—in triplicate—ensuring that this invaluable genetic resource is preserved for future generations.

This ambitious conservation project will involve the planting of 600 fruit trees, representing 200 unique varieties, in a carefully selected site managed under the stewardship of the NPWS.

The location offers ideal growing conditions and robust biosecurity, providing an essential buffer should unforeseen threats—such as pests, diseases, or extreme weather events—impact the original collection at our Capparoe headquarters.

A Living Legacy Worth Protecting

The ISSA Fruit Tree Collection is one of the most comprehensive repositories of traditional Irish apple varieties, along with pears, plums, and other heritage fruits. Each tree in our collection tells a story—not just of cultivation and flavour—but of place, community, and resilience. These trees are the descendants of varieties once grown in homesteads, convents, and old orchards across Ireland, many of which would be lost without the tireless work of ISSA staff and volunteers.

For almost 35 years, ISSA has worked to identify, propagate, and care for these heritage trees. We do not merely conserve for conservation’s sake: our mission is grounded in the belief that the old varieties hold the keys to a more secure and sustainable food future. Traditional varieties often exhibit hardiness, disease resistance, and unique qualities that make them more adaptable to changing climatic conditions than many commercial cultivars.

But a living collection, however well-tended, remains vulnerable. From weather extremes and emerging plant diseases to the unforeseen effects of globalisation and environmental change, the risks are real and growing. It is against this backdrop that our new partnership with NPWS takes on critical importance.

Conservation Through Duplication

Duplicating a genetic resource is a cornerstone principle of conservation biology. In seed banks, it is common practice to store duplicate seed collections in separate locations to hedge against loss. In the case of living collections like fruit trees, the same principle applies—though the logistics are far more complex.

Establishing this duplicate orchard in triplicate ensures that we not only preserve the genetic integrity of the collection but also protect the knowledge and cultural significance embedded within each variety. By planting three of each variety, we increase the resilience of the collection while also creating opportunities for comparative studies on growth performance, pest resistance, and fruit quality in different environmental conditions.

This is conservation in action: practical, strategic, and forward-looking.

A National Effort for a Shared Future

That this project is being realised in partnership with the National Parks and Wildlife Service is a testament to the growing recognition of heritage fruit trees as vital components of Ireland’s biodiversity. The NPWS’s commitment to conservation and stewardship makes them an ideal partner in this groundbreaking initiative.

This collaboration represents more than just land and trees—it symbolises a national effort to integrate agrobiodiversity into the broader framework of environmental and cultural conservation. By embedding heritage varieties within protected landscapes, we strengthen the ties between wild ecosystems and cultivated land, between food systems and native biodiversity.

Planting Seeds of Resilience

As the realities of climate change and biodiversity loss become ever clearer, our work at ISSA is evolving to meet new challenges. This project exemplifies the kind of proactive conservation strategy that will be needed across all sectors of food and biodiversity management.

But none of this would be possible without the unwavering support of our members, supporters, donors, and volunteers. Your belief in the value of what we do has made this milestone achievable. Every tree planted in this new orchard is a tribute to the collective effort of a community determined to protect Ireland’s horticultural heritage.

Looking ahead, the establishment of this triplicate orchard is not just a safeguard against loss—it is a promise to future generations. A promise that the fruit trees of our past will not disappear into memory, but continue to flourish, feed, and inspire those yet to come.