Last week was British Flowers Week , and as part of that , the organizers of the event interviewed various British bloom growers . In this clause , they spoke with Bella Butler , owner of West End Flower Farm , Hampshire .
Tell us about West goal Flower Farm and how you have had to adapt your business over the past few months . The farm is ground in Upper Froyle , Alton in Hampshire ( just 45 miles from New Covent Garden Market ) . Our kinfolk have been farming since 1920 , recently converting to bloom farming in 2016 . We have learnt a destiny in these last four days .
Last class , we went from a flower farm with a six - way bed and breakfast to open up the flower farm five days a workweek to the public with a farm shop and kitchen . We source locally and grow our own vegetables to get fresh and downcast food mile dish aerial in the kitchen , as well as selling 100 % local and British green groceries in the farm shop class .
Customers of the farm shop and the kitchen are heartily invite to take a pass around the farm , pausing by the rose field , sit by the lake and swan amongst the heyday beds of the main airfield . This has allow for us to reach a whole new customer infrastructure – walker and passer - by who see a java star sign and come in to identify a secret stone on the side of the A31 .
Since the Coronavirus pandemic bang we have had to adapt a lot of our farm . We removed a share of flowers beds , which would have been used strictly for wedding work ; we put down green manure to tip the ground or else . If there was to be no income from the flower , we made the decision to downsize the work load and help the ground at the same meter .
We have however continued to plant the ‘ Pick Your Own Patch , ’ which is unexampled for 2020 . It will be clear to the public shortly – there will be restrictions but this wo n’t stop the enjoyment of picking your own flowers for the kitchen table .
Our client ’s favourites are wrapping of ammi to create the staring meadow facial expression and our roses – their odor is to die for ! The rose field of battle never die to make me smile even when cover in mulch in wintertime . The prospect of buds is always exciting .
What is your personal favourite and why?I’m afraid I ’m disloyal – I bonk the newest flower in the field . This week it ’s the Darcey Bussel Rose . They are a gorgeous colour between dark red ink and pinkish , but not carmine and impossible to photograph . Last hebdomad it was golden everlasting – our new crop has just begun and they ’re captivating . Will , my husband and business partner , is quite unlike he is a true stalwart – sweet peas all the way .
Who do you deal your flowers to and have you seen an growth in demand for British flowers?We sell flowers to florists either by contacting us on electronic mail or collecting from the farm . We be after to flourish our growing surface area a mess by next spring and will be selling to market place ; cornflowers , calendula , cerinthe , ammi majus , salvia , scabious , snapdragon , dahlias and roses .
We also sell direct on the farm from our in - house flower store , Hannah from Hannah Berry Flowers , who is with us for the summer . you may order on-line atwww.westendflowerfarm.co.ukfor local manner of speaking or collection or you may jaw us in the bloom shop . Farm corsage are just £ 15 and bouquets rank from £ 40 – 60 .
When the UK went into lockdown , around Mother ’s Day , we gave away all our spring crop . We feel it was important to raise smiles at the prison term so we gave out bunch of genus Ranunculus , anemone , tulips and narcissi at the front logic gate , on the pathway and in the village . This did result in a lost crop of income however we have been really surprised by the villagers who now come to buy a hebdomadary bunch of prime and were n’t mindful of the pretty things we grew often which many retrieve more beautiful than the supermarket alternatives . We no longer palpate it ’s a loss but are proud of it has been an splendid pedagogy creature for our local village .
Why would you recommend British flowers over imported?During the flower time of year I wholeheartedly advocate British heyday . We have to support farmers in the UK to see the next generation of agriculturist come through . British flowers are more unique . I have worked with import heyday and they ’re often harmonious and have footling eccentric . Whereas British have stacks of character , from the wonky stems to the imperfect tense frilly petal in an otherwise still bloom .
The fact that British flower do not have to journey so far must also be consider . At our flower shop , client require if the flowers will last until the next Clarence Day – of course they will , they were only picked 9 hours ago . We have all been led to believe that international bloom have much more staying might but that is wrong and flush farmers are yell it from the rooftop .
What about British bloom in the autumn and winter – what can citizenry do?In autumn we still have tonnes of efflorescence from dahlias to chrysanthemums . Chrysanthemums are not just garage flower , they have exceptional colour , tincture and smell utter for autumnal events . I in person sleep together to see florists using them in their scheme all autumn long .
In wintertime British flowers for us take a back seat . We celebrate our leaf during this time however British grower in Lincolnshire are still producing some excellent stem .
What do you see as the future of British flowers?There are so many pocket-sized raiser out there , like myself , who occupy that customers may refund to the supermarkets for import flowers , or to the online Dutch agents . British Flowers Week raises cognisance p.a. but we ask to do more to cue the land to look in your townsfolk for your local cultivator . you could find your local grower using the mapping on the Flowers from the Farm websitehere .
However , I like to reckon the interest in bloom is now like food and that customers will seek out British or locally grown where possible .
generator : British Flowers Week
