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Choose what seeds you’d like to grow from the Seed Library boxes at Hanley Library, Southport. You can choose from flowers, fruit and vegetables, and herbs

The seeds are kept in alphabetical order and behind each divider are small brown packets of seeds to take away. Each packet will have a QR code to a website with more information on how to grow them

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Please write down the details of what you have borrowed in the logbook supplied

You can choose to leave your name if you wish, but just let us know the date and quantity of envelopes you have taken so we can monitor stock levels

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There are two ways you can support the Seed Library by donating seeds

1. Donating from your own planting

Once you have harvested and enjoyed your plants, the seeds from that harvest can be returned to the Seed Library for the next growing season. Users aren’t required to donate their harvest, but the more seeds we receive back in the library means the more sustainable our scheme will be!

The only requirement will be to return donations with growing instructions for the next user

To donate your own saved seeds to the library:

1. Help yourself to the blank seed packets in the donation box

2. We recommend including 5 – 10 seeds per envelope

3. Please ensure the labels on the seed packets are completed before dropping off

4. Enter your donation in the logbook

2. Donating bought seeds

Alternatively we’ll always welcome donations which haven’t been grown by users too! If you want to contribute to the Seed Library by picking up some seeds from a local garden centre or similar, you are welcome to drop them off in the donation box

Please just add a note to the logbook so we know where they came from

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Why not try some of these great websites for tips and ideas?

Gardening Help and Tips

Gardening for Beginners - 10 Tips | BBC Gardeners World Magazine

Beginner’s guide to gardening / RHS

Gardening tips & advice for growing your own plants, fruit & veg / RHS

What even is mulch? 27 of the most basic gardening questions answered | Gardening advice | The Guardian

EASY CROPS FOR BEGINNERS: AND HOW TO GROW THEM - (sowmuchmore.co.uk)

Vegetable Gardening for Beginners: The Basics of Planting & Growing | The Old Farmer's Almanac

Growing from Seed

How to grow from seed – a beginner’s guide - The Tea Break Gardener

How to Germinate Seeds: 6 Steps for Beginning Seeds Indoors - 2024 - MasterClass

Growing in Containers

Container gardening - tips and techniques / RHS Gardening / RHS

20 Summer Container Ideas | BBC Gardeners World Magazine

36 Container Garden Ideas to Inspire Your Own Pretty Plantings (bhg.com)

Indoor Gardening

Indoor Gardening for Beginners: An Ultimate Guide | Park Seed

How to sow seeds indoors / RHS Gardening

Indoor Gardening For Beginners: Basics You Should Know - Epic Gardening

10 Fun Indoor Gardening Projects to Do This Winter - Farm Flavor

How to Grow Microgreens | BBC Gardeners World Magazine

The Planting Season

UK Vegetable Planting Calendar | Easy Garden Irrigation

When to plant and harvest vegetables: a month-by-month guide (lovethegarden.com)

Sowing Timeline (charlesdowding.co.uk)

Planting Calendar UK: Month by Month – Roots Plants

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Our seed library is only just sprouting (!) and how it operates will be subject to change as we grow. As such, we will be especially grateful for – and responsive to - your feedback

If you are interested in getting involved, borrowing, or donating, please do get in touch! Email us via library@merseywestlancs.nhs.uk

We’ll also be especially interested to follow your progress as you grow. If you are keen on using social media, please do tag us in your posts and stories on Instagram and Twitter/X

You can follow us here:

Twitter/X: @MWLNHSLib_SO

Instagram: @mwllibrary

Please use the #MWLSeedLibrary hashtag in your posts so we can join in the conversation!

We’ll also leave comment cards at the Seed Library for you to leave feedback anonymously if you prefer

The success of the seed library is dependent on Southport and Ormskirk staff coming together as a community

From keen gardeners and green-fingered novices, to champions of sustainability in the NHS and staff wellbeing, we are very much looking forward to getting to know you and count on your support! #TeamMWL

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The Library has a number of fabulous gardening and growing titles in stock. Why not search our catalogue here to see what we have?

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The library team are always keen to support the wellbeing of staff through our services and resources, and gardening can have a positive effect on our mental health, particularly in reducing depression and anxiety (King’s Fund, 2016)

In 2021, the RHS released research that revealed those who garden every day have wellbeing scores 6.6% higher and stress levels 4.2% lower than people who don’t garden at all (RHS, 2021)

The scheme offers an affordable way for staff to try something new or encourage staff to affordably grow their own food or flowers

To promote biodiversity and preserve genetic diversity

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How to Grow Plants from Seeds

Sophie Collins, Melissa Mabbitt and the Royal Horticultural Society

2021 Octopus

ISBN:9781784727628

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How to Grow Plants for Free: Creating New Plants from Cuttings, Seeds and More

Simon Akeroyd and the Royal Horticultural Society

2023 Octopus

ISBN: 9781784728915

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The Green Gardening Handbook: Grow, Eat and Enjoy

Nancy Birtwistle 2023 Pan MacMillan

ISBN: 9781035003716

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A Year Full of Pots

Sarah Raven

2024 Bloomsbury ISBN: 9781526667472

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Seed libraries are places where people borrow seeds for gardening, which in turn helps promote seed diversity and local food production

By trialling a seed library at Hanley Library, Southport, staff can borrow and plant seeds in either their personal garden or in indoor containers. We currently stock fruit, vegetable, flower and herb seeds for anyone at MWL to borrow, grow and donate.

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There is no need to be a member of MWL Library and Knowledge Service to borrow from the Seed Library. You are welcome to pop along and help yourself!

However, if you would like to access the seeds outside of staffed hours, you might like to register with the library to ensure you have 24-hour access with your staff ID card

Registering will also mean you are eligible to borrow from our range of gardening books, that can help you make your choices about what to grow. You can search our catalogue here