Flax Forward

May 2026 – June 2027

If you would like to contribute to the project by sharing memories, stories or memorabilia (objects connected to the heritage research) please get in touch with jess.huffman@wessexca.co.uk

See What’s On

From land to linen and beyond: Telling the story of a plant, a town and a landscape.

Flax Forward is a community-led project. It aims to celebrate Bridport’s flax-growing heritage, whilst exploring the potential of locally grown, natural materials for a sustainable future.

Flax Forward is a partnership project delivered by Wessex Community Assets, Bridport Museum, Bridport Arts Centre and Bridport School of Regenerative Fashion.

The craft of flax processing has been identified as being at risk by the Heritage Craft Council. Wessex Community Assets (WCA) working with local farmers, have undertaken field trials growing, harvesting and processing Flax and Hemp for a range of sustainable uses, from yarn for weaving to horticultural weed suppression and insulation materials.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund is supporting this project alongside the Trellis Foundation.

Follow the project on social media:

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This Flax Forward project is exploring two complimentary paths:

1) Heritage Research

We are seeking out, gathering and connecting knowledge from heritage collections, archives and community sources.
This is in partnership with Bridport Museum for a six-month community research phase
Community researchers are uncovering the lost flax infrastructure, information, memories and oral histories.
This will add to the museum’s heritage data, making the story of flax in the Bridport Area more accessible.

2) Community Engagement

Explore new community and business opportunities from growing to using natural materials.
Alongside community research, we are providing hands-on practical education in the cultivation and processing of flax.
Volunteers are helping to design and make a “Bridport Dress” using locally grown flax.
Bridport Arts Centre are currently curating multi-venue exhibitions and events in late 2026 and into 2027 to celebrate Bridport’s flax heritage.

Looking Ahead to 2027

Following the end of the research and practical activities the project will extend into 2027 with interpretation commissions that will draw on the experiences of 2026 and help tell a comprehensive and long lasting story about Bridport’s Flax Heritage.

Past Opportunities:

Search for a Community Heritage Researcher

In April 2026, Bridport Museum will recruited up to 15 volunteers to take part in a six-month “deep dive” into heritage collections and archives. Volunteers are helping to unearth the story of flax growing and processing in the Bridport Area.

Training in heritage research has been provided and volunteers have been supported to collect information, with monthly sharing sessions. Research findings will be shared publicly from October 2026 through exhibitions and events. Please see our event page.

Volunteer with Flax Forward – closed

Heritage Research Facilitator – closed

Commission Opportunities – closed

Flax Growing, Harvesting & Processing Events

From May to July 2026, WCA and Tamarisk Farm grew a new crop of Long Stalk Flax, and processed last year’s harvest into yarn. Throughout July we organised public flax-pulling and processing sessions.

Flax and Hemp offer farmers the opportunity to diversify their crop rotation. As these Bast Fibre crops can be grown successfully without the need of fertiliser input or use of pesticides they are an ideal way of supporting and promoting biodiversity and organic farming.

Public events will be held on the farm and at local venues around Bridport.

Visit our Upcoming Events Page to see what’s on and how to get involved!

Get hands-on with the Bridport Dress Project

Collaborating with Tamarisk Farm and Bridport Fashion & Textile CIC, we are using locally grown and processed flax yarn to design and make a modern dress. Many hands are invited to contribute to the making!

We hope to hold a launch event for the Bridport Dress Project later in 2026.