Buy British and enjoy the beauty of natural just-picked flowers!

This year, British Flowers Week is held on June 14th to 20th 2021, it was originally an initiative by New Covent Garden Flower Market, and is a week-long celebration for British Flowers and the UK cut-flower industry.

Why buy British flowers? Well, not only do they have a better scent than imported flowers, they will be fresher, and last longer. British grown flowers are excellent value for money, and when in season, the quality goes up and the price goes down. You will be supporting local industry, keeping farms happy and encouraging wildlife with biodiversity. British flowers and foliage show the seasons to their best. You can buy what’s looking good in peak season rather than what’s looking okay all year round.

WHERE DO YOU SOURCE BRITISH FLOWERS?

Simply ask your florist if they can source British flowers through their flower wholesalers, alternatively there are many British farmer/florists in the country who specialise in supplying British-grown seasonal flowers.

You can, of course, also pick your own. Further information can be found on the British Flower Collective website.

Another source can be found in farmers’ markets/shops selling flowers from the farm on a regular basis. A very good resource is the Flowers from the Farm website if you want to find a British grower near you or a florist.

The British cut flower industry used to supply 90% of the flowers and pot plants used in this country. But, in the 1970's two developments radically changed things. Fuel prices rose, and this meant that the UK flower growers could no longer afford to heat their glasshouses. Meanwhile, Dutch government subsidies supported research and development within the industry and enabled growers in Holland to buy large areas of land. All of a sudden, the pendulum swung the other way. Hundreds of UK growers went out of business. Up to a few years ago, the percentage of British-grown flowers sold in this country was fewer than 15% of the 2.2 billion pound market. 90% of these were sold to British supermarkets. Today, however, things are starting to change. Customers are demanding local and seasonal flowers, as they recognise that daily flights from Columbia and Kenya carrying globally sourced flowers are hard to justify, even with the 'Fairtrade' tag.

It isn't just flowers that are better sourced locally. A huge range of British foliage is also available. Our green and pleasant land grows it with ease - just look in the gardens of flower arrangers for proof. The benefit of foliage is that is a great filler to mix with flowers, and it is often in plentiful supply with a beautiful scent to match the flowers.

June is the month when autumn-sown hardy annuals first start to appear, but at the beginning of the month growers still have to rely on bulbs; biennials and perennials to provide colour and flowers. This is also the time when roses begin flowering and British peonies appear for their all too short season.

Some of the flowers available in the month of June, are lupin, clary sage, love in the mist, cornflower, catmint, ammi, laceflower, delphinium, lady's mantle, poppy seed heads, knautia, red valerian, corncockle, phacelia, wild carrot, gypsophila, honesty seed heads, astrantia, scabious seed heads, feverfew, foxglove, mint and fern .. amongst others!

As you can see, the list of British flowers available around this time is endless and if you really want to investigate further I would recommend downloading a seasonal chart from British Flowers Week.

Another very resourceful book is The British Flowers Book by Claire Brown www.thebritishflowersbook.co.uk which is a wonderful and inspirational book full of British flowers and lists the seasonal flower varieties available.

WHY CHOOSE BRITISH FLOWERS?

Now is the time to buy British, more than ever and support these wonderful flower farms. British flowers are so special, they have a unique quality that can't be found with mass-produced flowers, they have a plethora of hues and shades, and you are absolutely guaranteed an amazing scent!