I’m a wedding florist and I only use British flowers: Here’s why.

I started my floristry training back in 2017, and at the time you got your flowers from the flower markets filled with imported flowers from all over the world, local flower farmers were only just beginning to become a thing. Oh how the floristry landscape has changed in just a few short years and us florists are so very grateful for it.

As a wedding florist, my commitment to creating unforgettable moments goes hand in hand with my dedication to sustainability and supporting local businesses and in this blog post I want to explain why.

Environmental Consciousness When It Comes to Floristry

We all know the impact of our activities on the planet now and airmiles are right up there. When you buy a bunch of flowers from the supermarket, you probably don’t realise just how far they have travelled.
Many are grown and flown in from Holland, but a huge proportion come from South America, as well as various other locations around the world. Don’t be fooled that flowers from Holland come from just over the channel either… with a climate similar to that of the UK they need to use extra resources to keep their growing houses the perfect conditions for growing many flowers all year round, giving their blooms a higher carbon footprint that of the same plant growing somewhere like Kenya.
A bunch of imported flowers has a carbon footprint 10x greater than a bunch grown in the UK.

Personal Health And The Impact Regular Contact With Imported Flowers Can Have

in 2018 my beautiful sister, Fiona, was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 24, and sadly passed away in 2020. While this was not directly related to floristry, it has deeply influenced the way I approach my own health and things I put on my body.
During one of my rabbit hole researches into the not-so-eco-friendliness of floristry, I was shocked to discover the extent of nasty chemical use on flowers being grown for the floristry industry.

Here’s a brief breakdown:

– Flower’s are grown in unnatural environments to supply us with any bloom all year round, using huge levels of resources (think heating, cooling, water, etc) in the process.

– Studies have shown flowers are treated with dozen’s, if not over 100, different types of nasty chemicals (herbicides, pesticides, insecticides…) to prevent disease and insect life from thriving on the plants. These chemicals stay on your flowers and, being fat soluble, are then absorbed by your skin when you are in contact with them. A good reason not to have cake flowers sat directly on your tasty buttercream icing-ed wedding cake.
These same studies have shown higher levels of cancer in farmers working on these flower farms around the world.

– You may think it is great not to have insects on your plants, but actually this action is annihilating our insect population and, in turn, is doing even further damage to our planet. A thriving insect culture is crucial to the earth’s health.

Celebrating Local Flora and Capturing The Seasonal Beauty Of The British Landscape

Not all doom and gloom, lets look at why using British flowers is amazing too!
There is something magical about the quintessential English garden. Full of beautiful, blousy, blooms and overflowing with colour – there is nothing quite like the variety you get from British flowers. Every week something new pops up, meaning no two weddings are ever the same, and you will get a floral landscape that is completely unique to you. A true celebration of the seasons.

Supporting Local Businesses

By choosing a florist who uses solely British flowers, in turn you are supporting a network of local businesses, farmers, and growers who are passionate about supporting the environment as well. They love and tend to their flowers with care and respect, they know their flowers are doing their bit for our environment and insect life before they do their bit for us. I want to continue to contribute to the resilience of our communities and celebrate the craftmanship of those who cultivate the beauty I incorporate into my designs.

A word on imported flowers…

While I am advocating the use of British flowers, I just want to highlight that this is not always a sustainable business practice for all florists. Sometimes you just want to have white roses at your Christmas wedding or have your heart set on Dahlias in April. There will always be someone who can help you realise this dream, but I ask that you look out for two things:

1) The flowers sourced are Fairtrade. Not all flowers are grown on a farm that offers fair working practices or equal opportunities. Just like chocolate, some flower farms around the world are proud to be part of the Fairtrade community and you know the workers growing your flowers are treated well.
2) The flowers sourced carry the Florverde symbol – a sign that shows they have been grown with the planet in mind, on a farm that consciously uses less water and other resources and minimises chemical use.

In memory of my sister, “Fis Wood” is being planted, with more trees being added all the time. Fi studied in marine biology and was a huge advocate for environmental change, volunteering where she could on projects to improve ocean quality. As the business grows it is my hope to donate to the planting of more trees in her arboretum with every wedding booking I take.

If you are interested in having a chat about your flowers please contact me here! I will be in touch within 24 hours so we can start planning your wedding flower journey.

I can’t wait to chat! Esme x