Sowing Stories

This Christmas, the Young People in Horticulture Association (YPHA) are proud to launch Sowing Stories, a festive fundraiser to connect horticulturists of all ages through the gift of gardening books.

To celebrate the launch of our new Crowdfunder, anyone who pledges £10 or more through the platform before 10th December will be able to claim a mystery horticultural book - either a vintage treasure or a newer, author-signed title – delivered wrapped and ready in time for the big day.

Celebrating the Launch of Our Crowdfunder Platform

Sowing Stories marks the launch of our new crowdfunder platform, designed to make supporting the YPHA easier and more flexible for everyone in the horticulture community.

The platform offers the opportunity for supporters to make donations of any size - whether it’s by signing up for £1 a week, making a one-off contribution, or throwing in some pocket change – and will be available on an ongoing basis, even beyond this festive fundraiser. Every donation, of any scale, helps us to better facilitate opportunities for our members; particularly by supporting travel bursaries to make our events more accessible to young horticulturists.

A Gift, in more ways than one.

For a donation of £10, you can choose to receive a book yourself or send it as a gift to a friend or family member. Whether it’s a timeless gardening classic or a fresh new release, each book will be a thoughtful gift for the plantsperson in your life, whilst also gifting YPHA with vital funds to reinvest in the future of horticulture.

Growing Generational Connections

At YPHA, we believe in fostering a deeper connection between seasoned industry professionals and the next generation of talent. Sowing Stories is just the beginning of our initiative to establish book-swap opportunities at industry events, creating meaningful exchanges of knowledge and passion across age groups. By bringing gardening books into the hands of young people, we’re planting the seeds for a vibrant future in horticulture, while also preserving the wisdom of those who forged the paths before us.

Get Involved

We’re appealing to individuals, businesses, and publishers to contribute by donating vintage gardening books or offering overstock at discounted prices wherever possible. Look out for details of our ‘Book Amnesty’ boxes at events, or email admin@ypha.org.uk to discuss getting your donations to us.

Proceeds from Sowing Stories will go directly towards YPHA’s educational programmes, events, facilitation funds and outreach efforts, helping to create a more accessible, inclusive and connected horticultural community for the future.