Why Choose British-Grown Flowers?

I came into floristry 20 years ago when I took a City and Guilds qualification at a local college. In the following years I continued to develop my skills, creating flowers for friends’ weddings and other celebrations - but there was something that didn’t sit right with me when it came to the way the flowers were sourced and the accompanying materials that were used. Importing flowers from places like Peru and Columbia, plus the huge amount of plastics involved in traditional floristry (such as the use of floral foam and plastic ribbons) just didn’t work with my ideology of respecting nature and using seasonal produce.

It was during an idle Google session that I discovered Flowers from the Farm - a community of growers and florists promoting the use of British-grown flowers. Finding a whole community of other people with the same mission and passion for using seasonal home-grown flowers and foliage was the push I needed to believe I could make a change and wave goodbye to imported flowers.

For me it’s clear: flowers are a luxury and one we should enjoy ethically and responsibly. But this isn’t about ‘making do’ or compromising on quality! Here are some of the reasons I believe in using British-grown flowers and taking a more natural approach:

1. No Floral Foam and Plastics

Floral foam has been popular in floristry for decades and you can see why: it can be cut into any shape or size, holds its shape when wet, is porous and is a convenient way to support cut flower arrangements. However, it’s actually incredibly bad for the environment (and us!). For example, one block contains the same amount of plastic as 10 plastic shopping bags. It’s non-biodegradable and non-recyclable - it simply breaks down into smaller micro-plastics which take thousands of years to dissipate, and can contaminate the water and food supply chain. It’s also toxic to us and other animals, as it contains formaldehyde and phenolic foam. It’s such a problematic material that the Royal Horticultural Society has banned the use of floral foam in its shows, such as Chelsea and Hampton. We never use floral foam at Twigg - there are lots of great alternatives for arranging flowers, including using chicken wire or small branches. This natural methodology also obviously makes for a much more natural-looking arrangement!

2. No Imported Flowers

Many flowers are imported from Holland, as well as further afield countries such as Peru and Colombia. The carbon footprint from so many air miles is huge. The story behind the flowers is also important to understand - many workers in other countries suffer poor pay, long hours and systemic labour abuses. Add to this the fact that there are fewer regulations when it comes to the chemicals and fertilisers used, which the labourers are exposed to during their work. As well as this impact on the people working with the flowers before they are shipped, those chemicals remain on the produce when they arrive in Britain, exposing florists and customers to the effects of them as well.

3. Enjoying The Beauty of Our Seasons

We’re used to having access to all varieties of fruit, veg and flowers at any time of year, regardless of whether they’re in season or not. (Strawberries in November anyone?!)

However, we believe that amazing, scented and joyous choices are available in each season, and enjoying seasonal flowers helps us appreciate each time of the year for its own floral superstars, ready to take centre-stage.

4. Supporting Nature

Of course its not just us humans that can benefit from choosing British-grown. Considering the types of flowers that not only cut or dry well, but those that will attract and support a diverse range of wildlife also ensures that you can enjoy the luxury of fresh-cut flowers, whilst protecting our future and helping lots of other species thrive.

We also avoid the use of pesticides and chemical fertilisers, and use the ‘no-dig’ gardening method. (We’ll write an article about ‘no-dig’ and its benefits soon, but essentially, instead of digging, you add organic matter to the soil surface as a mulch which is then taken care of by insects and worms.)

Hopefully that helps you see why we’re so passionate about British-grown flowers at Twigg. If you’d like to find out more, or would like to discuss our services, get in touch - we’d love to have a chat about how we can help.