Bridport opens Seed Library and launches first Seed Week
Bridport will become a much seedier place in 2026 following the opening of the brand new Bridport Seed Library in February – part of the first ever Bridport Seed Week!
Based in the Council Lending Library on South Street, the Seed Library will be offering over 100 varieties of vegetable and flower seeds . . . absolutely free to everyone. The seeds have been donated and packaged by several local seed savers, and will be available all year, whenever the main library is open.
The instigator of the project, Steve Meek, explained:
‘the aim is to encourage more people to grow their own vegetables, herbs and flowers, fostering greater diversity and making locally adapted varieties freely available. This will help strengthen our local food system and our growing community. It’s also a source of fun for both adults and children’.
The project is run by a group of 10 volunteers, who say they would be delighted if people learn to save seed and return it to the library, though this is not essential. Advice and help will be available from members throughout the year.
The Bridport Seed Library is a project of West Dorset Commons which aims to create and support shared and community owned resources.
It opens at 11am on Saturday 7th February, in the Lending Library on South Street, and seed inspired children's activities are planned to coincide!
🌱 Bridport Seed Week – Full Programme
🗓️ When: Saturday 31 January to Saturday 7 February 2026
📍 Where: Venues across Bridport
🌿 What: A week of seed swapping, films, talks and the launch of Bridport’s Seed Library, celebrating seed saving, diversity and food resilience.
🌾 Bridport Food Matters Seed Swap
⏰ Time: 10:00 to 12:00
📅 Date: Saturday 31 January 2026
📍 Location: Bridport Youth and Community Centre, Gundry Lane, DT6 3RL
☕🍰 Tea & cake: available
The long-established Bridport Food Matters Seed Swap returns in a new venue. This is the yearly community event where everyone, from novice to expert growers, can come together to share seeds, knowledge and enthusiasm. Free and open to all. Tea & cake available.
🎬 MMMM! Monday Movie, Meal & Mingling
Seeds Double Bill
⏰ Time: 7:00pm (6:00pm for food)
📅 Date: Monday 2 February 2026
📍 Location: White Room, Chapel in the Garden, Rax Lane, DT6 3JX
😋 Food: Delicious organic vegan curries available
🍷 Refreshments: available
🎟️ Tickets: https://ud.coop/seeddouble
A special Seeds Double Bill featuring Seeds of Sovereignty and Seeds of Freedom. These films explore how Indigenous communities are reviving traditional seed systems to eliminate corporate control, dependency and debt. Pre-book food to avoid disappointment.
🌼 Talk: Seeds and Diversity
Suzy Gallina
⏰ Time: 6:30pm for 7pm
📅 Date: Thursday 5 February 2026
📍 Location: Yellow Room, Chapel in the Garden, Rax Lane, DT6 3JX
🍷 Refreshments: available
🎟️ Tickets by donation: https://ud.coop/seedtalk
Hear Turn Lyme Green's Suzy Gallina’s highly rated talk on seeds and diversity. Find out how we, as gardeners and growers, can reclaim our seeds, protect seed diversity, and challenge corporate control. Learn the importance of why we should buy and grow local seeds. Learn how much a single seed can store in its memory.
🌱 Grand Opening: Bridport Seed Library
⏰ Time: 11:00am
📅 Date: Saturday 7 February 2026
📍 Location: Bridport Library, South Street, DT6 3NY
📧 Further details: bridportseedlibrary@gmail.com
Celebrate the launch of the Bridport Seed Library and learn how it works. It is easy, free and accessible to everyone. It is about more than growing veg. You can help build food resilience, shared knowledge and a stronger community. Seed inspired children's activities are planned to coincide!
