The Seed Swap and Plant Share is an annual event with the aim of reducing waste and saving money.

Many gardeners will have a box (or cupboard!) of seeds leftover from last year or from even longer.

The idea is to get them into the ground before they go to waste. That’s where the event comes in -- you bring in your unwanted seeds, organise them into the areas provided, and then help yourself to whichever new seeds you’d like.

The same idea applies to plants whether they’re house plants, veggie seedlings, seed potatoes, or herbaceous perennials.

If you don’t have seeds or plants to share we invite you to come too!

The event is a great way to connect with other gardening enthusiasts and to learn about vacancies at the island’s allotments.

A donation bucket will be available if you’d like to help yourself with the offerings.

We’ll be holding a raffle of gardening related items to o help cover costs and to support the allotments. We ask that those who attend bring in a small item for the raffle and/or support the event by purchasing tickets. We also have some generous gardening gifts donated to the raffle by local businesses. They include an apple tree from Manx Native Trees, gift certificates from Ballanelson Nurseries and Watson Nurseries, a meal-deal from Mother T’s, a Shiatsu therapy from Joyce Hatton MRSS, a ’Gardeners’ Skincare Set’ from Lovely Greens Handmade, and a bag of soft-wood from the Arbor Barber.

The event is hosted by the Laxey and Lonan Allotment Association with special help from the Douglas Allotment. It is being held not-for-profit and as a service to the growers and hobby gardeners of the Isle of Man. Everyone is welcome.

The event will take place this year on Sunday, April 9, from 1-4pm at the Laxey Sailing Club. Entry is free and there’s plenty of parking on the Laxey Promenade.

For more info, Email [email protected]

Tanya Anderson

Secretary of the Laxey and Lonan Allotment Association