The expansion of accessible seed-sharing hubs across North Yorkshire libraries has been hailed a major success, fostering community gardening and local food security.
The number of green-fingered residents is growing among North Yorkshire communities with the expansion of seed hubs in libraries.
In May 2024, North Yorkshire Council’s library service partnered with voluntary group GROW Scarborough to offer a seed swapping and sharing hub in the town’s branch.
The group launched the venture online in 2023, but they approached the library service with the purpose of offering an accessible base.
Last year, seed hubs were launched in Whitby and Filey libraries, with an independently run hub in Norton Hive Library opening in the next few weeks.
Darren Mancrief is the founder and co-chairman of GROW Scarborough, with the aim of enabling library visitors to pick up free fruit, vegetable, flower and herb seeds.
The Scarborough hub has shared more than 2,200 packets of vegetables, herbs and flowers since launching.
It has received support from local growers including school gardening groups and community gardening projects. They donate seeds that they have saved and some grow crops specifically for the group.
Mr Mancrief said:
“What really excites me about the coastal seed hubs is what they represent for the future of our region.
“By helping communities across Scarborough, Filey and Whitby to do something as simple and powerful as sharing and saving seeds, we’re building real food security, seed sovereignty and climate resilience from the ground up.
“Every seed that leaves one of our hubs grows into a plant and finds its way back, which is a small act with a big meaning.
“None of this would be possible without the tremendous support of the council, our fantastic library teams, Northern Seed Sovereignty UK, and the local communities who have embraced this with such warmth and enthusiasm.
“We would be very happy to work with any library that would like to be part of our seed hub network or develop their own independently.”
Scarborough Seed Hub has been recognised on a national scale as their work was on display at the Science Museum in London as part of the Future of Food exhibition earlier this year.
In the short time that they have been operating, Filey has shared 158 packets, and Whitby 172 packets.
North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for libraries, Cllr Simon Myers, said:
“We are delighted to see the network of seed hubs expand to other parts of the county.
“They showcase the breadth of what our library sites can offer, and their success is a testament to the collaboration between the service and the dedicated volunteers at GROW Scarborough.
“The seed hubs are easy to use, and our libraries are offering more people an accessible base to pick up and share seeds. Numbers have been increasing through word of mouth, and we hope this is the case in the new hubs to ensure they are a success.”
People can also get a helping hand with gardening through North Yorkshire Council’s horticultural nursery which is based in Harrogate.
The nursery has been operating since 1974 and offers the public the chance to buy the same plants that go into the award-winning floral beds throughout the Harrogate area.
The horticultural nursery has a selection of gifts and gardening accessories, such as planters, containers and compost. Gift vouchers are also available, and these should be exchanged by visiting the nursery shop in person and not online.
More details about the horticultural nursery are available at www.northyorks.gov.uk/leisure-tourism-and-culture/plants-sale
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