We're putting things on pause - at least for now

After Seeds of Hope Scotland running for just over two years, the project will be going into hibernation - at least for the time being. Here's why.

I'm Serena. If you've applied for a donation of seeds for your project, placed an order in our online shop, or chatted to us on social media - I'm the person you will have dealt with 😊.

I founded Seeds of Hope Scotland at the beginning of the first covid-19 pandemic, and have been happily running the initiative as a (pretty much) full time job ever since.

Now, however, I'm taking the incredibly hard decision to put Seeds of Hope Scotland into hibernation, at least for the time being.

Here's why: Last week, I stood as a candidate in the local council elections, here in Arbroath. I'm surprised but delighted to say I was elected, and so I am now a councillor.

It's going to be a huge challenge, and I am absolutely committed to doing the best I can for my constituents. Sadly, that means I am just not going to have the time to dedicate to also running Seeds of Hope Scotland.

I think I would be spreading myself too thinly, and that's when mistakes happen. Seeds has also been a completely non-political project, and as I have been elected for a particular political party, I worry folk would perceive it to now have a political angle.

So - over the next couple of months I will be working to 'power down' Seeds of Hope Scotland in a way that fulfils all of its existing commitments. Here's what I mean:

• If you have already placed an order with us, this will go ahead completely as normal

• I won't, however, be re-opening the online shop, or taking on any new custom orders

• All remaining seeds donated to our Seed Amnesty project (along with any remaining seed stock of our own) will be donated to good causes who have already applied for seeds and who are on our waiting list

The Seeds of Hope Scotland website will remain up, to showcase the project's origins, development and what it has achieved so far.

I want to say an enormous thank you to every single person who has placed an order, donated spare seeds, spread the word about what we do or expressed an interest in the project.

At the time of writing, we have managed to donate seeds to 181 good causes all over Scotland. That is down to all of you, and I couldn't be more grateful.