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UK ONLY. where can i obtain some free seeds or plants for my newly formed garden borders???

ivy, roses, bedding any really!! what with mortgage/childcare/debt, i can't afford to buy any yet, and my borders (which i just built up) are very BARE!!! da fella - you are totally wrong. you have no idea, i put my situation in so i would not get answers like "go buy some", i pay my way in everything in life and also i do voluntary work for animals, do not say i am begging. i am not begging, i am asking a simple question with the hope someone might know a good answer!

Public Comments

1. Not sure about free, but you can get some dead cheap seeds if there's a Wilkinsons near you; lots of useful annuals for under a pound a pack. Ivy and roses are quite expensive; think sunflowers, marigolds, pansies, foxgloves, poppies, wallflowers, nemesia... A lot of packets are only 39p! And they've got a three for two offer on! ADDITION: Actually, I've just remembered Wilkinsons do a range of roses for just £1 as well! And lots of really cheap bulbs too. These don't appear on the website, but they're in my local store.
2. You are suffering from what economist call "opportunity costs" That is you had the opportunity to spend your income how you pleased, in your case a mortgage, child / ren and to borrow money. What you are asking is that other people who made different decisions should give some of what they have to subsidise your chosen lifestyle. What you are doing can only be described as begging. Away and boil your head!
3. I realize that this question was addressed to UK Only, but I may have an idea or two that could assist - even from across "the pond'. Many of us started out under very similar circumstances, and I applaud your efforts and forward thinking. Without knowing a town/city near where you live, I wasn't able to make effect searches for local counsels or garden clubs. So in that regard I am of no assistance to you. However, here are a few thoughts - take them or leave them at your liesure. I am interpreting the use of your word "free" to mean no money needed, and not to mean a handout. My ideas will take a bit of time to accomplish. In my career, I have lived in many countries. I would walk around the communities I lived in to both learn what grew in that location, and also to admire other's work. Along the way I met other gardeners - and people who wanted nice gardens, but weren't gardeners. In these wonderings I found that gardeners are, by and large, generous with their extra plants. Extras meaning when their plants have multplied and are now crowding each other. Also, in sharing seeds that their plants have set. If you have the ability to do this in your community -getting to know other local gardeners - I think you will find that sharing cuttings of vigorous growing plants such as ivy is not uncommon, and also the sharing of plants that needed to be thinned out - iris comes to mind there. When I was in English speaking communities - where I knew I would not trip over miscommunication due to my poor language skills - I was even bolder. When I would walk by gardens that were clearly overgrown, I would occasionally screw together my courage, knock on the door, and offer to dig up, clean, and replant their flowers if I could take a few of the news ones that had multiplied from their parent plants. Many times these were families that wanted pretty gardens, but didn't have the time, or possibily the inclination, to do the work it requires. To my surprise, I was generally well received and allowed to give and take in this manner. All the Best to You, Ann
4. Don't know where you are in the uk, but there are internet groups around the country called freecycle, where you can pick up items for free from other members once you have belonged to the local one for a month and have offered something yourself for free. If you buy yourself a couple of packets of annual seed for now if you can afford it, try tagetes, eschscholzia(califonian poppies),or calendula for a quick and cheap filler. Or if you have the nerve to ask, often when local parks/gardens change their planting scheme for the changing seasons a lot of the plants get thrown away, where a lot can be saved. (ok some can't) Lastly get friendly with 'gardening neigbours'. They will be only too happy to give you any excess plants they have grown. I would. Also learn to take cuttings. Good Luck !