[tezmc]

I'm not sure I'd say that most commercial seed stock is hybridised. I'm in the UK too and in my experience most varieties you can buy are still the kind where you can harvest seeds and plant again the following year.

That said, I ignore the hybrid F1 varieties too. Mainly because I enjoy harvesting my own seeds and selecting the best (or weirdest mutations) each year that are best adapted to conditions where I live. Hybrids can be pretty expensive too and you generally only get a few seeds.

[gouranga]

Try http://www.realseeds.co.uk/ - great people and very cheap and generous.

[tezmc]

Thanks for reminding me about them! I ordered a catalogue from them a couple of years ago but never got around to ordering anything. I'll definitely take another look.

[gouranga]

Good stuff - I recommend their 'Cherokee Trail of Tears' beans, 'Frise Vert Fonce' Parsley and 'Reine des Glaces' lettuce (which is the most awesome thing I've grown in quantity - I spilled some seed in my lawn and loads popped up so I left them as well!).