News / food growing
Seed swap returns for 21st edition
Bristol’s annual community-led celebration of seed sovereignty, food growing and environment-friendly gardening is making a welcome return to the Trinity Centre following a successful 20th anniversary edition in 2025.
Bristol Seed Swap, the much-loved free event that attracts hundreds of visitors throughout the day will once again offer tables of seed giveaways as well as talks and storytelling designed to inspire gardeners at all levels of experience.
“We couldn’t be more excited to be returning to Trinity to bring like-minded growing and gardening folk together and to kickstart the 2026 growing season,” said organisers. “There’s always an incredible buzz of excitement at the Swap which, after the long, wet winter we’ve had this year, we’re expecting to be even more pronounced than usual.”
Visitors can pick up seeds for free and are invited to add any spares they have to the pile for others to take away
Speakers taking to the stage on February 22 include Ellen Rignell from Winnow Farm Seeds, sharing practical seed-saving knowledge, and Dan Fox of Two Acre Farm, a Somerset no-dig market garden, in conversation with Serge Harfouche, a member of the Buzuruna Juzuruna collective that runs an heirloom seed library and agroecology school in Lebanon.
There will be a screening of Rooted in Bristol, a “homegrown” documentary exploring the histories and contributions of Black and Afro-Caribbean growers in the city, followed by a panel discussion on local land access, heritage growing and food justice.
The programme is hosted by hip hop eco-artist Ian Solomon-Kawall, founder of the May Project Gardens which works at the intersection of culture, environmentalism and youth education.
Attendees are invited to get involved with local seed resilience by joining the Seed Guardian initiative which supports people who commit to saving and returning seeds, helping to build a healthy, diverse and locally adapted seed supply that all growers can benefit from.
The event is a fixture on the calendar of local growers, with a dynamic lineup including a programme of talks, a film screening, stalls and cakes, a children-friendly area and the chance to become a Seed Guardian
“Over 300 people have already signed up for Seed Guardians,” said the project’s Angus Lam. “Facing the risks of seed extinction, we hope to see more seed enthusiasts join hands to keep our heritage varieties alive.”
Alongside the free seed tables, there will be stalls from local organisations and growers, a plethora of homemade cakes and a kids’ corner.
Bristol Seed Swap takes place at the Trinity Centre, BS2 0NW, from 12.30-4.30pm. It is free to attend. Visit bristolseedswap.com for more information.
All images: Guy Manchester
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