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Hundreds of Brit gardeners 'warned not to plant mystery seeds sent from China'

Mysterious packages of seeds marked as ear studs left gardeners in the UK baffled after they were sent to the country, possibly in a bid to avoid custom checks

Gardeners across the UK have sent out a warning after hundreds were sent unsolicited packages of seeds, which are believed to have been sent from China.

The packages were posted to customers who previously purchased seeds on Amazon marketplace and eBay.

Many of the gardeners were baffled after they received the unwanted deliveries, which were not paid for, which were marked as petals or ear studs.

It was claimed this could have been done in order to avoid custom checks.

Government officials said they had been made aware of the bizarre case and it is understood at least one police force has been notified.

Gardeners are warned not to plant the seeds if they received them in case they are an invasive non-native species.

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The seeds were sent to gardeners across the UK(Image: Getty Images)

Sue Westerdale, 63, who runs a beauty business and has been growing seeds in her spare time, was among the gardeners to receive an unexpected package.

She told Daily Mail Online: Because of the lockdown, a lot of people are starting to do vegetable gardening who didnt before.

A lot of people have not known the best place to get seeds, particularly at the time when garden centres were closed, so were ordering through Amazon.

My husband and I have ordered seeds from a number of suppliers via Amazon, all purporting to be from the UK.

But we received a pack of four courgette seeds in a hand-written envelope from Serbia, then soon afterwards we got this bag from China that said ear studs, containing large black seeds.

Mrs Westerdale, from Dronfield, Derbyshire, said she had received messages from hundreds of people saying they had the same thing happen.

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The gardeners warned others about the seeds(Image: Getty Images/EyeEm Premium)

She continued: You dont know what you are planting or how dangerous these seeds might be. Some people have been quite panicky.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said it is aware of complaints about unsolicited Chinese seeds.

It told the publication it makes some 1,000 interceptions a year of unauthorised plant deliveries from overseas, mostly due to plant sales online.

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