- Categories:
- Special Interest
- Tags:
- AwarenessConservationEnvironment
- Where:
- United Kingdom
- Date change rule:
- Every September 23 through October 23
- Holiday emoji:
- 🌳
Seed Gathering Season, observed from September 23 to October 23, encourages individuals to collect and plant native tree seeds. Take a walk, identify local trees, and gather seeds to help conserve existing forests and replenish native tree populations. Join the effort to grow new trees, support biodiversity, and strengthen our planet’s green infrastructure.
Want to sponsor Seed Gathering Season? Learn how
Expected Seed Gathering Season Deals
As a Cause holiday focused on community action and environmental stewardship, Seed Gathering Season doesn’t typically feature commercial deals. Instead, organizations like the National Tree Council, The Woodland Trust, and local conservation groups often host free workshops and guided seed collection events. Garden centers such as The Home Depot and Lowe’s may offer discounts on tree saplings, gardening tools, and soil amendments to support planting efforts. Eco-conscious brands like Patagonia or REI might promote initiatives that fund reforestation projects or donate a portion of sales to environmental charities. We will update this page with confirmed live events and partner initiatives as September 23 approaches.
Platform Guide for Seed Gathering Season
X/Twitter
Mention @NatlToday and use #SeedGatheringSeason. Share photos of your seed collection efforts or tips for identifying native trees.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #SeedGatheringSeason. Post about local planting events or educational resources for tree conservation.
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #SeedGatheringSeason. Share visually appealing content of seeds, trees, or newly planted saplings.
Seed Gathering Season Hero
John Muir
History of Seed Gathering Season
Although the U.K. is well-known for its lush trees and attractive foliage, this was not always the case. After the Second World War ended in the mid-20th century, environmental preservation discussions regained traction. However, it wasn’t until the early 1970s that a National Tree Council was formed to explore methods of maintaining and replenishing depleting vegetation.
Even the Tree Council, however, could not have predicted the devastating storms of 1987 and 1990. The Great Storm of 1987, which occurred on the nights of October 15 and 16, 1987, was a strong extratropical storm that caused significant casualties across England, France, and the Channel Islands, as well as the destruction of nearly 15 million trees!
It was followed a few years later by the Burns’ Day Storm of 1990, which was not as severe in terms of trees destroyed but still caused widespread devastation.
Meanwhile, Dutch Elm disease — a plant disease that causes wilt and death in all species of elm trees — continued to infect and kill native elm trees throughout the 20th century, accounting for the loss of nearly 30 million native trees.
However, as soon as the N.T.C. was founded, it began executing plans and efforts to catch up with the increasing deforestation for agriculture and urban expansion. The Seed Gathering Season is one of its major campaigns. The month-long event provides the ideal setting for inspiring citizens to not just collect seeds, fruits, and nuts to cultivate the trees of the future, but also to engage children and inspire the next generation of tree enthusiasts.
Seed Gathering Season timeline
The National Tree Council is set up to improve the environment by guiding and encouraging citizens to plant more trees.
Over 15 million trees are destroyed by an extratropical cyclone that ravages various parts of England, France, and the Channel Islands.
The Burns' Day storm hits the United Kingdom in January, less than three years later, and with comparable intensity.
Over 350 million trees are planted to counter deforestation effects in Ethiopia.
How Businesses Can Celebrate Seed Gathering Season
Local businesses can embrace Seed Gathering Season by hosting educational workshops on native tree identification and seed collection. Garden centers can offer special promotions on tree-planting kits, saplings, and gardening tools, or partner with local schools for tree-planting drives. Coffee shops might offer discounts to customers who bring in collected seeds for donation to a community project. Landscaping companies can highlight their sustainable practices and offer consultations on planting native species. Emphasize community engagement and environmental stewardship rather than direct sales.
Seed Gathering Season FAQs
When is Seed Gathering Season?
Seed Gathering Season 2026 runs from Wednesday, September 23 through October 23, encouraging a month of active participation in tree conservation. This period is ideal for collecting seeds as they ripen.
Why is seed gathering important for conservation?
Seed gathering is crucial for conserving biodiversity and restoring native habitats. By collecting seeds from local trees, individuals help ensure the genetic diversity of future forests, making them more resilient to climate change and disease. This proactive approach supports ecosystem health.
How many trees are planted each year globally?
While exact figures vary, global reforestation initiatives aim to plant billions of trees annually. Organizations like the Arbor Day Foundation and Eden Reforestation Projects contribute significantly, planting hundreds of millions of trees each year across various ecosystems to combat climate change.
What is the National Tree Council?
The National Tree Council (N.T.C.) is a UK organization dedicated to promoting tree health, planting, and conservation. They are instrumental in coordinating national tree-related initiatives, including the establishment of Seed Gathering Season to engage the public.
Seed Gathering Season Activities
Gather some seeds
Since the main aim of Seed Gathering Season is to encourage more people to become aware of the value of trees, it’s the perfect time to show off your knowledge of your favorite trees by gathering their seeds. Look around for the trees you fancy and gather their seeds or nuts for preservation or replanting.
Learn how to grow trees
Attend a seed gathering event and learn how to grow trees from seeds from experts and tree gardeners. As more people learn how to take on tree building projects, more tree building projects can easily spring up, which in turn ensures the culture of tree planting continues.
Go on walks
Take walks during Seed Gathering Season and enjoy the beautiful scenery of neatly-tucked hedgerows and orchards lining the street. Appreciating the visual aesthetics of the environment is a pretty good way to lift a damp mood and raise your spirits.
5 Intriguing Facts About Trees
Natural air conditioners
Trees lower air temperature by evaporating water in their leaves.
Sound barriers
Trees reduce noise pollution by acting as sound barriers.
Harmful though dead
The death of one 70-year-old tree would release over three tons of carbon into the atmosphere.
Long life span
On earth, trees are the longest-living organisms.
Fresh oxygen suppliers
One tree gives nearly 260 pounds of oxygen yearly.
Why We Love Seed Gathering Season
It promotes environmental conservation
From planting projects to various partnerships with volunteers and sponsors, Seed Gathering Season creates an opportunity for experts and tree gardeners to teach others about the best tree planting methods. It also makes it easy for local planting projects to get access to funds and resources needed to grow healthy, happy treescapes.
It is a very exciting activity
With the aid of the National Schools Programme, kids learn about tree planting and embark on various projects where they gain practical knowledge and are taught how to plant seeds on their own. Teaching kids about their local trees and the best way to care for them not only turns them into tree enthusiasts but also ensures that the culture of environmental care is passed down to the next generation
Prevents the extinction of native trees
The idea that seeds collected from local trees are adapted to local circumstances is a major reason why the N.T.C. encourages the deliberate gathering and planting of seeds. With more trees being needed for commercial purposes, the ones being planted must be given the right environmental factors necessary for adequate growth.
Seed Gathering Season dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | September 23 | Wednesday |
| 2027 | September 23 | Thursday |
| 2028 | September 23 | Saturday |
| 2029 | September 23 | Sunday |
| 2030 | September 23 | Monday |
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