26 November 2015
Gardeners encouraged to save for Seedy Sunday
Gardeners from across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire are being encouraged to collect and save seeds ahead of the forthcoming “Seedy Sunday – Seed, Food & Drink Festival” due to take place on Sunday 20th March 2016 in Aden Country Park in Mintlaw.
A key ambition of the Seedy Sunday event is to provide an opportunity for likeminded people to come together to swap their surplus plants and seeds ahead of the 2016 growing season.
To help encourage seed collecting thousands of seed packets are now available, free of charge, to any green fingered folk who want to either start collecting plant seeds, or have already collected surplus seeds that they are willing to swap at the event.
Free seed packets are available to individuals or groups and can be picked up from the Aden Craft & Gift Shop, The Happy Plant Garden Centre, Parkhill Garden Centre, Loch-Hills Plant Centre, or they can be posted out directly by contacting the Aden Country Park Development Worker.
Taking inspiration from existing seed swapping events in England, the Seedy Sunday – Seed, Food & Drink Festival event is the first of its type for the North East of Scotland. The event will take a “seed to plate” theme which will provide an opportunity for visitors, families, gardeners, food lovers, allotment groups, and people with a keen interest in food and horticulture, to come together to celebrate locally produced food, drink, seeds and plants.
The event will not only offer a range of high end local food, drink, and gardening stalls; it will also offer children’s activities; music and performance; opportunities to exchange seeds, plants, knowledge and recipes; along with providing insightful horticulture and cookery demonstrations; talks; and workshops for all ages.
The first Seedy Sunday – Seed, Food & Drink Festival is being made possible by receiving funding support from both the Community Food Fund (CFF) and the Aberdeenshire Council Buchan Local Community Planning Group.
The innovative event is being led by the Aden Country Park Development Worker who is working in partnership with the Aden Community Allotments Association (ACAA), Aberdeenshire Council, The Foyer, Buchan Development Partnership, and the Friends of Aden Country Park.
Aden Development Worker, Neil Shirran said: “We’re all getting very excited about the new Seedy Sunday event. It should prove to be a really informative, fun, and feel good event. With the onsite plant nursery playing host to the event, Aden Country Park is the perfect venue for the Seed, Food and Drink festival. It’s the first of its kind in Aberdeenshire and will not only celebrate and promote food and drink from the local area, but will also provide a hub for gardeners enthusiasts to come together to exchange knowledge, seeds, plants and recipes”.
If you are a keen gardener, are a local food or drink business, part of an allotment group, or simply someone who wants to attend or be involved with the event please visit the Aden Country Park website further information, including seed collecting advice and tips, or contact the Aden Development Worker on adencountrypark@gmail.com