An annual seed swap held in Hove is anticipating a record number of visitors next Sunday as the event enters its tenth year.

Seedy Sunday is a volunteer operation that began in February 2001 offering gardeners from across the UK the chance to meet fellow growers and exchange vegetable and plant seeds.

It has since blossomed into an international event, drawing in guest speakers and inspiring similar seed swapping over the British isles and even as far as Canada.

This year's event, being held at Hove Centre, Norton Road on Sunday the 6th February, is set to be the biggest yet according to organiser Ms Fran Saunders.

“We had 1800 people here last year and the number of people attending has grown steadily with each event.”

Ms Saunders, an Adult Social Care social worker in East Sussex, added: “It is much more than a gardening event. It is about saving our heritage. The planet has lost 75% of its biodiversity in the past 100 years, whilst the UK has lost 90% of its vegetable varieties.

"EU laws make it extremely costly for growers to sell unregistered seeds. By swapping them, we're able to get around those laws and keep Britain's plant life varied and diverse.”

For more details contact call 01273 381686 or email info@seedysunday.org.

by Al Horner