SEEDS both rare and common were up for grabs at an annual event designed to encourage green fingered enthusiasts to share the starting point of their hobby.

This year's Seed Swap run by West Somerset-based environmental groups Transition Minehead and Alcombe and Forum 21 attracted at least 160 people.

And one special feature of the event at Minehead Methodist Church was the chance for gardeners to get their hands on varieties likely to disappear with free seeds from the Heritage Seed Library run by Garden Organic.

Other seeds available came from the Friends and Family Allotment at Harepark Terrace in Alcombe.

"The reasons for running the Seed Swap become more important by the year as food and transport costs rise," said Maureen Smith from Transition Minehead and Alcombe.

"It went very well and it's a nice way to share spare or saved seeds and try growing different vegetables.

"There are so many seeds in a packet that you don't always want to plant them all."

Seed swappers could also pick up bags of green manure at the event.

"Lots of seeds were swapped and we had very few left over at the end," said Mrs Smith.

"And we even raised £17 in donations for the Heritage Seed Library."

Organisers are now planning a plant sale in May in the hope that a few extra seeds planted in the coming months will yield some spare specimens.

Photo: Steve Guscott