Somerset family grows same broad bean since 1875; heirloom joins national collection
A specific variety of broad bean, maintained by the Burge family in Somerset since 1875, has been added to a national heritage seed collection. This preservation effort highlights the role of individual families in protecting biodiversity and agricultural history.
Why it matters
Preserving heirloom crop varieties is essential for maintaining genetic diversity and food security against the dominance of commercial agriculture.
A broad bean grown by the same Somerset family since 1875 has become part of a national collection of heritage vegetables. Known as Grandfather Bean, the variety has been maintained by the Burge family for around 150 years, with seed passed down through generations. In 2025, it was among 11 varieties successfully added to Garden Organic’s Heritage Seed Library after being grown and assessed as part of a project to find unusual and threatened crops. Its journey from a family garden to a permanent seed collection shows how individual growers can preserve varieties that might otherwise disappear.Importance of Somerset family’s 150-year-old broad beanGarden Organic says Grandfather Bean was grown by the Burge family in Somerset for around 150 years, making it a genuine family heirloom.
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