Victoria Uff is a member of Flowers From the Farm, a non-profit membership association championing artisan growers of local cut flowers. Here, she explains how Suffolk members are set to create a Flower Flash in Bury St Edmunds during British Flowers Week
Suffolk members of Flowers From the Farm, working with the support of Bury in Bloom, will be creating an immersive and interactive piece of public floral art to celebrate British Flower’s Week on Angel Hill, Bury St Edmunds on June 28. Combining their key aims to highlight and champion British floriculture alongside sustainable and foam-free floristry techniques, their encompassing theme this year is Regeneration.
Uniting growers, floral artists and the wider public, they will build an interactive floral installation with flowers grown entirely by themselves, using sustainable and regenerative principles. The members aim to showcase the beauty that British flowers possess and the artistry of the designers who choose to work them.
As they build and create the installation, they will invite the public to share in the experience by adding their own hopes, wishes and thoughts in the form of specially-made flower tokens – delicate floral hangings to which can be added written messages which will then be collated at the end of the project as a memento for the people of Bury.
They will also be holding a competition to win part of the design itself, for the lucky winner to take home and display in their own home/garden.
The Suffolk Flower Flash installation will also highlight the power people have as consumers, to actively seek out home-grown flowers and do their bit to redress the ecological impact of the imported flower industry.
Victoria Uff, one of the Suffolk members of Flowers From The Farm, is the founder of The Meadow Patch, based in Worlingworth. What started back in September 2020 as a few hand-dug flower beds, has blossomed into a quarter of an acre of ever-changing floral bounty and a business that supplies flowers to customers across the region, as well as creating wedding florals and sympathy work.
Victoria comments: ‘Despite the many shocking realities of our cut-flower industry, the demand for British Flowers is definitely rising. This was wonderfully illustrated by the incredible flowers and foliage used to decorate Westminster Abbey for the coronation, all of which were provided by members of Flowers From The Farm and from the gardens of the RHS.’
And, speaking on behalf of the Suffolk members, she adds: ‘Collectively, we believe our choices have the power to effect real positive change – both in the industry we work in as flower growers and florists, and throughout our wider community as custodians of this beautiful part of England. We hope our project will delight, inspire and educate and we cannot wait to share it with you!’
Suffolk Flower Flash, to celebrate British Flowers Week, takes place at Angel Hill, Bury St Edmunds on June 28, 2023, from 10am-4pm. Visit Flowers From The Farm and Bury in Bloom. British Flowers Week is New Covent Garden Market’s national celebration of the magnificent British Floral Industry, running from June 26-30. Also, visit the The Meadow Patch
The Suffolk Flower Flash team comprises of the following members, working together and representing different areas in the county:
Victoria Uff of The Meadow Patch
Alarna McCarry of The Wild Society
Lucy Spencer of Hall Lane Flowers
Jenna Walker of The Flowers at Lane End
Francesca Goodman of British Blooms
Paula Joyner of Fox House Flowers
Wendy Philips of Salix Barn Flowers and Craft
Barbara Wilder of Wilder By Nature
Katie Newton of Drowsy Bee Flowers
Victoria Scrase of Stour Valley Flowers
Carolyn and Nick Pinney-Blake of Yellow Ley Flowers
Kimberley Howard of The Dedham Vale Flower Farm
Wendy Overy of Fenland Flowers and Foliage
Sue Taylor of The Floral Harvest
(Featured image supplied by Victoria Uff)
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