Today was a momentous day.
Ten years ago, Gill Hodgson from Fieldhouse Flowers, Yorkshire, had the spark of an idea that she could grow British flowers as a business, and she set up an organisation allowing like-minded growers to connect with each other as a support network Starting up the organisation, with others joining in over the years, it is today that we celebrate a decade as 'Flowers From The Farm', with over 1000 members nationwide.
This year, 2021, we would have held our annual conference here in the North West of England, but, due to the current Covid climate, we were a happy band online, with supportive and congratulatory messages from HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, Floral Designers Shane Connelly and Simon Lycett, Presenters Alan Titchmarsh, Jonathan Moseley and Rachel de Thame, as well as many others.
Organised wonderfully by the Co Chairs of the National Committee, Justine Scouller and Carole Patilla, the online conference had a theme of 'celebration and inspiration, and it didn't disappoint. Speakers from far and wide gave us much to think about and admire.
As an organisation, we are indebted to Gill for her vision of what British flower growers could become when united together to share knowledge, expertise and support. What a tour de force! I'm honoured to be a member, promoting British flowers, and using them in designs; thus allowing clients to recognise that British flowers are the absolute best when it comes to scent, and sustainability,
Here's to many more years of Flowers From the Farm!