Seed ordering opens from first thing (GMT) on 01 December 2024 until midnight (GMT) on 03 January 2025.
However, of course, this remains subject to any Covid and legal restrictions which might apply over the seed exchange period.
Geographical Restrictions
Seed Orders to members with seed delivery addresses in the EU and Northern Ireland
Members with delivery addresses here may make Main orders ONLY, but NOT any Surplus orders. This is because these countries now also require a phytosanitary certificate for each incoming parcel of seed. We arranged a system last year to have Main Order seeds posted onwards to members, and this will continue to operate this coming year.
Seed orders to members with seed delivery addresses in Japan
A phytosanitary certificate is also required by Japan for imports. If a Japanese member is willing to volunteer to receive and forward seed to other members, we may be able to reinstate main orders for Japanese members. If you are interested please contact .
Seed orders to members with seed delivery addresses in the USA • You must have a ‘Small Lots of Seed’ permit, which is issued by APHIS, and which allows you to import seeds into the USA. • Details of how to apply for a permit can be found
• When you send your seed request, send an up-to-date ‘small lots’ permit and conditions and a green and yellow US Customs APHIS label for that permit.
• Each permit and label are valid for up to 50 packets of seed, so send one permit and label for your main seed request,
and one for each request of 50 packets from the surplus seed.
• Permits are valid for three years and the ones you send should be valid until at least the end of February 2025.
• Your permit only allows seed to be sent so do not request any items with a black star ✸ in the printed list (or X in the online list), nor live material in the 5000s (or marked ♠) in the printed list (or L in the online list). These are not permitted and your request is likely to be held up or destroyed if we send these items.
• We comply with US regulations, so we will not send seed to the US without a permit.
• You can post your permits, conditions and customs labels to Chris Parsons Lorbottle Lodge, Whittingham, Alnwick, NE66 4TD, UK or attach to an email to
• You may also send permits in advance with your seed donations.
Seed orders to members with seed delivery addresses in Australia
Members with delivery addresses here may make Main orders ONLY, but NOT any Surplus orders. This is because from 2022/23 Australia now also require a phytosanitary certificate for each incoming parcel of seed. We have arranged a system where seed will be sent to one recipient in Australia to pack into separate parcels for Australian members. There are lists of allowed/banned plant taxa (here) in the Australian MAFF BICON database. Please check your request against these BEFORE placing your order, even though we have tried to help by noting AU against such seed in the online list, so please treat this as a test this year. The Australian Customs will destroy or return the whole Australian order to SRGC in the UK if it includes any banned seeds.
Seed orders to members with seed delivery addresses in New Zealand
There are lists of allowed plant taxa (here) in the NZ MPI PIER database. Please check your request against these BEFORE placing your order, even though we have tried to help by noting NZ against such seed in the online list, so please treat this as a test this year. NZ Customs will destroy or return your whole order to SRGC in the UK unless it only includes Allowed seed.
Seed orders to all other Overseas members
Please check with your own government authorities whether your country has any seed import requirements. Let us know what we need to do and send any necessary documentation. We do wish to comply with any laws relating to seed imports.
Seed Distribution Procedure
The West of Scotland Group will manage the distribution of orders. Full details of the arrangements for ordering seed will be included in the seed list and on the website. Orders on paper are discouraged, but if necessary, they must reach the Seed Request Manager, Chris Parsons Lorbottle Lodge, Whittingham, Alnwick, NE66 4TD, UK by 03 January 2025.
The seed distribution will begin in mid-January and all main requests will be sent out by late January. Donors’ seed requests are completed first, then non-donors' in order of their arrival date followed by surplus seed requests. This means that main and surplus requests are sent out separately and may arrive a few weeks apart. The whole distribution should be completed by the end of January. Please allow for delays in the postal system, waiting until after 18th February 2025 before enquiring about your seed. All seed correspondence, lists and queries can be sent to . We will ensure that emails reach the relevant manager.
Seed lists
All UK-resident postal members (except those with paperless e-subscriptions) will receive a seed list automatically by mail in late November.
Overseas members will NOT be mailed paper Seed Lists, EXCEPT on request by email to . The seed list will be available to all members on the website from 21st November under Seed Exchange, Seed List. Ensure your membership is renewed promptly to ensure you receive a seed list.
Seed ordering
We encourage all members to both order and pay using our online system to save unnecessary administration time. If you do not have access to a computer yourself (or someone to help input your order), then please contact the Seed Request Manager Chris Parsons Lorbottle Lodge, Whittingham, Alnwick, NE66 4TD, UK for assistance as early as possible and certainly before posting your order. The online request system will be live from 01 December 2024 until the closing date of 03 January 2025, which is the closing date for receipt of all seed orders.
To order online, please log on to this website with your email address and password. Login is found at the right of the blue menu bar at the top of this screen. If you’ve not logged in previously, or forgotten your password, you will be able to create or reset it when you try to login. If you haven’t used the online portal before, please use it this year, as the system is very simple.
Please note the prices below are for Winter 2024
Main orders (Cost each: £10/€12)
Single members (who are Not Donors) can order 16 packets.
Single members (who are Donors) can order 25 packets.
Family memberships can make 2 orders as above.
Surplus orders (Cost for each 25 packets: £10/€12)
Single members can order up to 200 packets.
Family memberships can make only 1 order, and order up to 200 packets.
Either 25 or 50 selections can be individual seed numbers, the rest must be selections from blocks of seed numbers, or our own random selection.
Easy Ten (Cost for one envelope of 10 packets: £2/€4)
This is ten packets selected by our team, chosen for easy growing and with sowing advice.
Please give plenty of alternative numbers in case your first choices are sold out.
After you complete your seed choices, you finalise your order(s) and pay by bank debit/credit card (Visa, Mastercard or AmEx). You can pay for Main and Surplus orders separately, so please make sure you have paid for both your orders before exiting the ordering system.
