Garden presenter Monty Don features Cel Robertson, a former flower farmer, as she transitions to a new career and shares her preferred selection of 7 flowers for arranging.
In the heart of the countryside, Cel Robertson, the owner of Forever Green Flower Company, has found a new passion for flower farming after a career as a landscape and garden designer. Since 2013, Cel's flower farm has been providing local people with an array of seasonal, homegrown flowers, each one carefully nurtured on the farm.
Cel's love for flowers is as diverse as the blooms she grows. With new favourites emerging each week, it's impossible for her to choose just one. Among her favourites are the 'Nicotiana x hybrida 'Tinkerbell', with its trumpet-shaped blooms on long stems, and the 'Dahlia 'Tamburo', a compact semicactus dahlia with deep maroon blooms that add a touch of elegance to any arrangement.
However, the challenges of flower farming are not lost on Cel. The worry about drought due to climate change is a constant concern, as flower farming demands a considerable amount of water input.
A day in the life of a flower farmer is filled with various tasks. Every day, Cel cuts flowers for sale, conditions and bunches stems, makes bouquets for local orders, supplies local shops, and even teaches growing workshops.
The end of the week is often the busiest time, with Cel supplying flowers for local weddings. The satisfaction of producing a beautiful bouquet from a handful of seeds is, for Cel, the best part of her job.
One of Cel's most productive and popular stems for sale is Applemint, which is in production from May until August and adds a wonderful scent to floral work. Another essential tool that Cel uses every day is her Niwaki snips.
Finding a suitable piece of land to rent was a significant challenge for Cel when starting out. However, she persevered and now enjoys the benefits of growing high-quality flowers for profit, a hard physical job that requires skill and organisation.
Buying British flowers offers several key benefits. By choosing British flowers over imported ones, consumers can significantly reduce their environmental impact, as British flowers typically travel only a few miles from farm to consumer compared to imported flowers that can travel thousands of air freight miles. This results in a carbon footprint for imported flowers that can be up to ten times higher than for locally grown flowers.
British flowers are also generally fresher when purchased and tend to last longer once in the home. Buying British flowers helps sustain local jobs, supports family farms, and keeps money circulating within regional communities. British flower growers often practice more sustainable agriculture with lower chemical inputs than many large-scale import operations, benefiting pollinators, promoting biodiversity, and preserving traditional farming methods.
British flowers are less likely to carry high chemical residues, which can reduce skin irritation and be safer for consumers. British blooms tend to be more flavorful and scented compared to some imported flowers which may be bred primarily for transport durability rather than fragrance or appearance.
In summary, choosing British flowers helps reduce carbon emissions, supports local farmers and communities, offers fresher, more sustainable blooms, and promotes environmentally and socially responsible floral sourcing. So, the next time you're looking for flowers, consider supporting a local British grower and making a sustainable choice.
- Cel Robertson, previously a landscape and garden designer, has discovered a love for flower farming at her farm, Forever Green Flower Company, since 2013.
- Among Cel's favorite flowers are the 'Nicotiana x hybrida 'Tinkerbell' and the 'Dahlia 'Tamburo', each offering unique characteristics that enhance any arrangement.
- Climate change and potential droughts pose a significant challenge to Cel's flower farm, demanding careful water management.
- Cel's day-to-day tasks as a flower farmer include cutting flowers for sale, preparing stems for conditioning, making bouquets, supplying local shops, and teaching workshops.
- During the weekends, Cel caters to local weddings, deriving satisfaction from creating stunning bouquets from homegrown seeds.
- Applemint, a fragrant and productive stem, is one of Cel's most popular offerings, available from May until August.
- By choosing British flowers, consumers can reduce their environmental impact, support local jobs, and enjoy fresher, more sustainable blooms with lower chemical residues compared to imported ones.
