The original influencer, Lynne Franks – mentor and founder of SEED Store and SEED Café sustainable lifestyle store in Wincanton – is best known for creating London Fashion Week, the British Fashion Awards, advising charity projects with Greenpeace, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, and has represented celebrities from French and Saunders to Diana Ross. Her community SEED Hub Club brings together women for wellbeing, craft and business workshops, and helps mentor students.

How long have you lived in Somerset?
I love Somerset. I have been here for six years: I feel I have come home. I didn’t expect to end up living here but I feel deeply connected to the soul of the land. Living halfway between Glastonbury Tor and Stonehenge is very mystical. I have a network of old and new friends across the region who are like-minded, spiritual creatives.

Where do you go to escape?
The Dorset beach – usually, Burton Bradstock. After a lifetime of flying round the world I have no wish to go anywhere on a plane. I miss Paris and New York, where I used to spend a lot of time when I was in the fashion business, but I’d only like to visit by virtual reality now.

How did you cope through lockdown?
I was in a bubble with the lovely Tamsyn Gregory (who runs the SEED Store) and her family, who made sure I wasn’t on my own. I never felt lonely as I was always out walking my

dogs, exchanging friendly hellos with fellow Wincantonians. Although I missed my family, who were in London and Oxford, we stayed close. I was sad to close my SEED Café for so long but was online with the SEED Community all over the country, teaching workshops and giving talks on my vision for the future of sustainability, community collaboration, women’s leadership and a circular economy.

You never seem to stop: how do you stay calm and retain your sense of humour?
I meditate and chant every day. Walking the dogs is good for me and I try to go swimming at Holbrook House when I can, which really calms me down. I spend quality time with fun people including my lovely family. I tend to see the funny side of most of my life’s ridiculous situations, which in many ways were funnier than Absolutely Fabulous. My family thinks so anyway!

What’s your greatest passion in life?
The empowerment of women. I think we have gone backwards when you look at Afghanistan, the rape of women in Ukraine and even the way women are treated here in the UK. We have a lot more work to do – especially around economic independence and the circular economy.
Big business, economics and politics are still based on an outdated capitalist system that is manipulative and self-serving. We have to support our young people to develop into leaders who care about the environment, community and collaboration. So many have lost their confidence and been traumatised by being locked down. They need a lot of healing, and I am happy to be part of a partnership project throughout Somerset, organised by Somerset County Council, that is taking care of young people between 16–19 who need support.
I think young people need to be shown how to grow their own food – we all do really – plant more seeds and trees and learn how to cook and eat healthily. And of course, we need to radically reduce environmental pollution and learn to love and care for our land. I also don’t believe in most of this country belonging to a few rich people – we need for everyone to become stewards of the land. I also believe it is time to revert to barter and collaborative community business – led by women – and am involved with developing ideas I have had for more than 20 years to make this happen.

Is there anything in life you’ d still like to try?
To be honest, I’ve tried most things that I have wanted to. I just want to live the rest of my life dedicated to creating a better world for the future generations – that is the role of the wisdom keepers, to which, at my age, I now belong.
For more information visit www.seedhub.uk.