Blooming British Flowers Week 2018
There’s a good reason that British Flowers Week falls during this week in June. Gardens and flower farms across the country are resplendent in wonderful seasonal flowers. From May through to August is the peak time for our home-grown blooms. But what makes them so special and why do we need a week to celebrate them?
British flowers can be cut and sold on the same day.
Photo credit: forageforflowergarden
Through the summer months when wedding season is upon us is the perfect time to utilise the products we have right on our doorstep. The seasonal flowers of the summer are glorious; peonies, stocks, delphiniums, foxgloves, sweet William, pinks, cornflowers, snapdragons, scabious, sweet peas, freesias, and white hesperis to name only a few. Wedding bouquets could be filled with roses such as David Austin’s Gertrude Jenkins, a wonderfully scented pink rose.
Photo credit: The Real Flower Company
We have so much variety and such incredible quality right here on our shores, that highlighting this fact seems stating the obvious, but sadly it isn’t due to the imported flowers having the monopoly.
A team at The New Covent Garden Market devised this week in June to bring awareness to our industry and also to celebrate the best of British.
It is now in it’s 6th year and each year is growing in momentum. Shops, town centres, markets, stately homes, pop-ups, flower farms and more are joining in the message this week to support the British cut-flower industry. Visit www.flowersfromthefarm.co.uk to find your local grower. There are now over 500 members in the UK and 70 in Scotland.
There is really nothing better than the cottage garden flowers we have growing here. A style that the Duchess of Sussex choose for her recent wedding. The architectural shapes of British cut flowers are a joy for us florists to use, and the colours are so vibrant. So many couples getting married want to have traditional flowers, especially with the abundance of glorious scents.
Photo credit: Honeysuckle and Hilda
There are events happening all up and down the country this week, so be sure to look at www.britishflowers.week.com for what’s on. We’ve cherry-picked the best for you right here!
1. Farmer Florist Exhibition at The Ryedale Folk Museum. www.ryedalefolkmuseum.co.uk
Yorkshire
16th June - 15th July
See the exhibition by photographer Tessa Bunney of the British cut flower industry.
2. Workshops at Zita Elze Flowers. www.zitaelze.com
RHS London Floral Artist in Residence 2018.
London
18-22nd June
3. Cutting garden tours at Daylesford Farm. www.daylesford.com
Cotswolds
21st June 10am - 1pm.
4. British Flowers pop-up stall - The Good Flower Company. www.thegoodflowercompany.co.uk
Exeter St Davids
21st-22nd June
Exeter St Davids railway station.
5. Dog collar workshop - Young & Blooms at Doghouse. www.youngblooms.co.uk & www.doghouseboa.co.uk
Bradford on Avon
Sunday 24th June 10.30am - 4.30pm.
Photo credit: Young Blooms
6. British Flower Week at The Garden Museum. www.gardenmuseum.org.uk
London
18th - 24th June
The jewel in the crown of the weeks celebrations. Come and enjoy 6 amazing installations in the nave of the museum by extroadinarily talented florists. Here is a quick look at each installation, however these are best seen if you can get to Lambeth Palace Road, SE1 this week!
Evolve Florists
Festoon Florists
Floribunda Rose
Harry’s Flowers Florist
Veevers Carter Florist
Wolves Lane Flower Company
This is a week to buy British and celebrate and support our industry. Look out for events near you and the hashtag britishflowersweek. Enjoy, sniff, gift! Our British flowers are very special!
Photo credit: Forage for Flower Garden
Photo credit: Bosley Patch
