We DO Want to go to Chelsea!

On May 19^th a group of East Sussex & Kent flower farmers,- namely Orchard Farm Flowers (yes, that’s us), Blacker and Moore, Anna’s Country Flowers, Blue Hen Flowers, Chambers Farm Flowers,  Garden of England Flowers, Bow Meadow Flowers and Country Blooms will join up to 100 flower growers from Inverness to the Isles of Scilly who will be up early cutting flowers and transporting them to London for Flowers from the Farm’s first appearance at the RHS Chelsea Flower show. This is a hugely exciting opportunity for all the growers round the country to show just how wonderful and diverse British flowers are.

Flowers from the Farm is a not for profit organisation run by volunteers to promote the use of seasonal, British grown flowers, which currently account for only about 15% of cut flowers bought by consumers in the UK, in a market worth around 2.2 billion pounds per year.  This inspiring network of small scale flower growers has given their time to plan organise and supply flowers for their Chelsea display which will also be built and manned by members, all without any corporate sponsorship.

Flowers from the Farm was founded in 2011 by Gill Hodgson, and now has over 500 members throughout the UK. Most are sole traders, small or micro businesses, farmers, smallholders and gardeners who offer a scented and seasonal alternative to supermarket flowers.

Members generously share information and experience with each other, and new growers are given encouragement support and advice. It is this spirit of collaboration, cooperation and generosity that has made the FFTF display at Chelsea possible.

The Flowers from the Farm display can be found in the centre of the Great Pavilion.