The Gardeners’ House in Penzance has been awarded the maximum available grant of £3,000 from The National Archives to deliver Seed Stories, a new community archive project bringing people together through shared experiences of seeds.
And an additional funding win from the D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust of £5,360, awarded this week – will fund delivery of the Seed Stories project – a year-long programme exploring the relationship between people, nature and wellbeing.
Launching later in 2026, the project will work with community groups in Penzance. Aligned with the natural seed cycle, the project will deliver 24 engagement activities for people in Penzance, with a particular focus on environmental participation and mental health.
Seeds symbolise potential, transformation and connection to nature. From childhood games to the food we eat and the plants that shape our landscapes, they are part of everyday life. Seed Stories will explore these connections at a time when Penzance is looking towards regrowth and renewal.
The Gardeners’ House opened in central Penzance in June 2025 and is home to a growing archive of materials about the local landscape, flora and fauna and the people who first recorded and described it.
Participants will explore seeds, native plants and Cornish language alongside a Cornish writer and botanists, developing creative responses rooted in their own experiences.
Miki Ashton, director of the Gardeners’ House, said: ““Seeds are something we all recognise. They hold memories of childhood, of family meals and of landscapes that matter to us. This exciting project will provide an opportunity for people of all ages and different places to come together.”
Around 30 people from each community will take part, with at least twenty seed stories added to the archive. Stories and creative responses will be shared locally, with details announced later in the year.
Emily Goddard, Collections Manager at the Gardeners’ House, said: “As a archive, our role is to preserve not only objects but the stories that give them meaning. Seeds may be small, but they carry powerful associations with place, identity and belonging.”
The project will create a handling collection of seeds with related images and engaging stories for use in care homes and day centres across Penzance. A programme of fun and fascinating activities exploring the incredible world of seeds for local children, adding their voices to our growing collection.
Further details about Seed Stories will be shared later this year through the Gardeners’ House website and social media channels.
