Seed Gathering Season 2025 – What It Is and How to Take Part
Every autumn, Seed Gathering Season offers a timely reminder of our connection to the natural world. Spanning both a nationwide campaign and a specialist festival, it champions the simple but powerful act of collecting seeds to grow tomorrow’s trees.
As more people in the UK seek ways to live sustainably, these initiatives offer a grounded, accessible way to take part in environmental renewal, right from the garden gate.
Seed Gathering Season Overview
Seed Gathering Season runs from 22 September to 22 October and is led by The Tree Council as a nationwide initiative to inspire people of all ages to collect, plant, and grow tree seeds. The goal is to replenish future tree populations and protect the UK’s woodland heritage.
It’s a time to slow down and engage with nature, whether that means a walk through your local park, teaching children how to identify trees, or collecting seeds from native species like oak, hazel, or beech. These small, seasonal actions help nurture biodiversity and support rewilding efforts across the country.
For families, it’s an easy way to introduce sustainable habits and create a real connection to the landscape. It can also offer a practical route to a greener, more resilient garden. Every seed planted now is a quiet investment in the future.
The Seed Gathering Festival
Taking place from 17–19 October at the Centre for Alternative Technology in Wales, the Seed Gathering Festival is a landmark event for growers, seed savers, and agro-ecological advocates. Hosted by Soil Smiths and the Seed Sovereignty Programme, it brings together farmers, researchers, and enthusiasts to explore the future of local seed production.
The festival includes hands-on workshops, expert talks, and networking sessions aimed at strengthening regional seed systems and sharing knowledge across the UK’s growing community. Whether you’re a seasoned commercial grower or just starting to explore the value of home-saved seed, it’s a rare opportunity to connect with others who care deeply about the resilience of our food and farming systems.
Why Seed Gathering Matters
By collecting and planting native seeds, individuals directly contribute to rewilding and greening efforts in their local areas, helping to restore habitats and support declining wildlife populations.
For children, it offers hands-on learning that builds environmental curiosity and care from an early age. For adults, it’s a reminder that climate action doesn’t have to be complex; simple, repeatable acts can have long-term impact.
Planting a seed also connects us to natural cycles and reinforces behaviours that support a lower-impact lifestyle: gardening, composting, seasonal eating, and more. In a time when the climate crisis can feel overwhelming, seed gathering grounds us in local actions that feel meaningful and regenerative.
Our Connection to Woodland
We’ve spent over three decades working from an ancient woodland in East Sussex. It’s our base and shapes everything we do. Surrounded by mature trees and rich natural habitat, we hold a deep respect for the materials we work with and the landscapes they come from.
Our commitment to sustainability runs through every process, from using FSC-certified timber to eliminating waste by turning offcuts into biomass fuel for our kilns and heating systems. It's why the message of planting for tomorrow resonates so strongly here.
How You Can Get Involved in Seed Gathering Season
Start by collecting seeds from native trees such as oak, hazel, rowan, or hawthorn – ideally from healthy, local specimens. Take a paper bag, label what you gather, and plant them in pots or raised beds using peat-free compost. Sturdy wooden planters offer the durability and drainage young saplings need to thrive.
Join the Movement and Plant for Tomorrow
Seed gathering is a quiet but powerful way to reconnect with nature and contribute to something far greater than ourselves. Each seed planted supports local ecosystems, strengthens climate resilience, and brings us closer to a more sustainable future.
Whether you’re filling planters on a patio or walking woodland paths with your children, you’re part of a growing movement. So get outside, get involved, and remember, big change often starts with actions as small as seeds.
