Flax Forward

May 2026 – June 2027

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 that will be 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.

This Flax Forward project will explore two complimentary paths:

1) Heritage Research

We will seek out, gather and connect knowledge from heritage collections, archives and community sources.
This will be achieved in partnership with Bridport Museum for a six-month community research phase
Community researchers will uncover 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 will provide hands-on practical education in the cultivation and processing of flax.
Volunteers will help design and make a “Bridport Dress” using locally grown flax.
Bridport Arts Centre will curate multi-venue exhibitions and events in late 2026 and into 2027 to celebrate Bridport’s flax heritage.

How to Get Involved?

Become a Community Heritage Researcher

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

Training in heritage research will be provided and volunteers will be supported to collect information, with monthly sharing sessions. Research findings will be shared publicly in November 2026 through exhibitions and events.

Apply to be the Heritage Research Facilitator

Commission Opportunities

Join us for Flax Growing, Harvesting & Processing Events

From May to July 2026, WCA and Tamarisk Farm will grow a new crop of Long Stalk Flax, as well as process last year’s harvest into yarn. Throughout July we will be organising 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 will use 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.

See What’s On

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.