Southern England Seed Sovereignty: Training & Community Networks

The Southern England regional implementation of the Seed Sovereignty Programme demonstrates practical, place-based approaches to building seed sovereignty through structured training and community-based seed networks. The program operates seed politics and practice training as its core work, delivered in collaboration with inspiring growers, trainers, and projects across the Southeast region. The initiative offers in-depth introductory programmes that equip participants from both community and commercial backgrounds with theoretical knowledge and practical skills to begin seed saving. These introductory programs are available in two formats: a four-week online course or a single-day in-person intensive, allowing participants to choose delivery methods suited to their circumstances. The programme launched its first intermediate year-long seed production training in Autumn 2022, structured as a hybrid model combining online learning with on-farm practical experience across multiple farms in the South East. This intermediate training provides participants with thorough grounding in how to incorporate seed production into their growing operations and businesses, addressing the practical integration of seed production into existing agricultural or horticultural enterprises. The regional approach recognizes that seed sovereignty extends beyond rural agricultural contexts into urban spaces, where seed savers actively build urban crop diversity. Urban seed saving initiatives reflect the diversity of migrant communities that have brought seeds from across the world, building rich cultural, culinary, and crop diversity within cities. Specific community initiatives include the Guildford Seed Bank, launched in 2021, comprising home gardeners, allotment holders, and local small-scale commercial vegetable and flower growers based in Southwest Surrey and East Hampshire. Members of the Guildford Seed Bank grow 2-3 crops annually, with seeds distributed to the community through local libraries, schools, and at the Surrey Seed Swap. Other regional groups like Cornish Seed Savers operate peer-to-peer sessions on different aspects of seed saving, while local seed study groups provide evening gatherings where growers discuss seeds and share knowledge. These community-based approaches demonstrate how seed sovereignty is built through combining formal training with informal peer learning and local distribution networks.