Project Website: http://www.unearthedseedbank.org/
Unearthed Seed Bank is a site-responsive intervention by Sally Kidall created for the deep reservoir site in Eden Gardens, Macquarie Park Sydney. The complex subterranean seed vault exists only in the viewer's imagination with the help of the plans, a cross-sectional elevation and a concept video. The timber access platform is visible to visitors as it floats on the water's surface of this dynamic reservoir. Unearthed Seed Bank is located deep below the Eden Gardens and is accessed via the floating platform ladder. It descends vertically through the deep reservoir and into the rock tunnels below. This precarious access is designed to be quickly disconnected when the seed collection is threatened by fire and catastrophic events.
The secure storage facilities offer a range of temperature-controlled zones to suit long-term storage of seeds and tissue culture from our most endangered indigenous plant species from Lane Cove National Park region which supports over 625 plant species including 71 trees, 38 orchids, 43 ferns. One third of these species are recorded as locally rare, this means they are represented by less than 5 plants. With 10% of NSW flora at risk of extinction, the balance of our ecosystems is vulnerable not only to climate change but to the impacts of invasive plant species, feral animals, diseases, land clearing, urban development and pollution.
Seed banks offer a backup, like an insurance policy, to protect our Australian plant genetic information against extinction. It is vital to protect Australia's biodiversity to help maintain a healthy natural environment to support our native fauna and human habitats.
This subterraneous seed bank was constructed during the initial Eden Gardens development and finally launched during the Eden Unearthed Exhibition 2021.
Seed Preparation
The Seed Preparation & Laboratory is a sterile zone where new seeds are cleaned, sorted and dried and where tissue culture is prepared for long-term storage. Some seeds need to be released from their pods or gum nuts. Careful preparation is vital to ensure the longevity of the seeds. There are 5 storage zones within this seed bank, their temperatures are designed to suit various plant species. Cold Zone 4˚, Very Cold Zone -20˚ and the Cryogenic Freezer -196˚. Some plant species seeds cannot be stored, for example, some rainforest plants, while others are unable to be germinated from seed. The leaf material or cuttings are collected from these plants and propagated in the nursery or stored as tissue culture in the Cryogenic freezer at -196˚ to secure their longevity.
