The Ledbury Flower Farmer

18/02/2025

February half term is a time when I always try to have an empty greenhouse. This year is no different. The larkspur have been ousted to harden off and slow down a little as I won’t be planting them out just yet.

The shelves are now bare and I’ve cleaned all of the trays to make sure that there are no lurking pests be they insects or fungus. I’ve given the trays a good scrub with some fairy liquid and they’ve had a day in the sun to dry.
Next week I will start sowing seeds.

Today I’ve had the pleasure of 19 flower growers for a good catch up and look around the flower farm and how I do things. I always enjoy sharing what I do and learning how others go about it on their plots too.

It’s safe to say that there will be a lot of flowers in the West Midlands this year when everyone’s plans come to fruition.

Also on the flower farm today I’ve had a wood burner installed in the studio to keep us toastie warm for the winter and early spring workshops. The link is in my bio above or via the workshop tab on my website.

14/02/2025

The 14th of February is a very important day on the flower farm.

It’s ready steady sow!!! 🌱 🌱 🌱

There will be a magical 10 hours of daylight which means that seeds sown after this date are much less likely to grow leggy and thin as they stretch for the light.

Strong healthy seedlings are much better able to stay healthy and survive any nibbles - although I have to prevent the pheasants from getting to my seedlings- they must taste like the most delicious baby leaf salad.

Greenhouse Tetris will soon begin as seedlings are pricked out and potted on taking up more space on the shelves and staging. The greenhouse becomes a hive of activity and my favourite place to be- especially in the spring sunshine. The seedlings are followed by cuttings of chrysanthemums and this year dahlias too.

New this year is my hands on one morning a month seed to vase workshop. It will be a sociable morning with like minded people as we go through the theory over coffee and then put it into practice and you will take home some seedlings, cuttings, flowers or saved seeds depending on the mornings activity.

I have just 2 places left and the link is via my website or in the bio at the top of my page. X

01/02/2025

Over winter I’ve been busy adding the finishing touches to The Ledbury Seed Pod.

It is a one bed apartment overlooking the flower farm that is available via direct booking with me or Airbnb. The bedroom can be made up of 2 single beds or one super king bed to suit your needs and we are very well situated for many days out to Malvern and the hills, the Wye valley and Cheltenham with its festivals - be they racing or jazz.

Let’s not forget that we are a 10 min walk along a footpath into Ledbury with its own festivals such as the poetry festival and its delicious array of independent restaurants and shops.

As it’s newly listed I have lots of availability if you have friends visiting so just get in touch and I can make a reservation for you.

Parking right outside the door for 2 cars, the bathroom is downstairs, the kitchen facilities are fridge, microwave, toaster and toasted sandwich maker with the implements and crockery required. Bed linen and towels are provided.








Photos 1-4 by

31/01/2025

February starts tomorrow - do you have your loved one a Valentines gift? I'm not offering flowers this year as my roses are all dormant and I'll be sowing seeds the week after but I do have gift vouchers that can be redeemed for workshops and flowers during the fresh season of March to October. Gift vouchers can be any value and are valid for a year, just drop me a message and I can post it to you.

The next workshops I am offering is on the 1st March with Jo from Wye Valley flowers. There are just a few places left if you would like to join us.

Join myself and Jo from Wye Valley Flowers for a day of planning and talking through how to lay out and grow through the season...

30/01/2025

Would you like to grow your own flowers?
Do you know your ladybird larvae from your fungus gnat larvae?
Do you know when to sow those £80 a packet poppy seeds?
Can you get the tall green spires of bells of Ireland to germinate?

If your answer is yes to question number one and you’re not too sure about the rest then take a look at the introduction to growing cut flowers course that I have on March 1st or my seed to bouquet series of mornings which are hands on through the growing season from sowing seeds to collecting seeds- we will go full circle with the season.

If you have any questions fire away and I can answer them for you. If floristry is what you prefer then there are also lots of floristry workshops based here on the flower farm in the studio. The link for booking is in my bio and via my website.

26/01/2025

I always love any time that I get for more training in growing or floristry - I’ve just come home from 2025 conference where 200 growers put our heads together to listen and discuss all that our amazing speakers told us. This year I think we’ve all come home knowing that combined we really do economically as well as environmentally play a huge part. What we need to do now is provide the data to prove that and then we can really make a difference to more than just the environment.

Professor David Bek gave us a great insight into the global floriculture and Minette Batters explained the importance of data collecting from our individual flower farms to collectively be able to make change.

Roisin Taylor told us of her travels around the world seeing cut flower production and is creating the British cut flowers association to help with funding, knowledge sharing and strategies to manage as the climate heads to 2C warmer.

Kim inspired us all to go for it and gave an insight into growing and picking huge volumes of mixed crops- this isn’t monoculture at scale but it’s definitely the whole event at scale.

Ben Cross gave a fascinating insight into Alstromeria growing sustainably under glass in his 4th generation business in West Sussex.

There were sessions that we could book into too and I chose to attend financial sustainability talk and and joint presentation on future proofing, crop planning and adaptations for climate change both which brought together the message of our own businesses data collection, knowing our own land and planning accordingly and looking after our soil.

There were also sessions available on hubs and routes to market which Jules from sat on the panel and talked about building your own resilience.

The whole event was kept on time and running smoothly by Georgie who’s book the flower farmers year was partly responsible for how I ended up 5 years later with all of these inspirational cut flower growers making a difference to the environment and the British economy.

20/01/2025

Who is on my team?

There’s no way that I could do all of this alone anymore.

Jo joined me in the autumn as she moved her floristry business from Stratford to Huntley. A keen gardener she asked if I had a need for any help and with all of the beds to clear and mulch I said yes. Jo is also a florist who buys from and while we growers all work hard individually to grow high quality flowers for it we also support each other and can help out with advice or extra stems for each other if needed. That community strength is invaluable as a small business and I’m grateful for the friendship that Jules has also created through her desire to get British stems to local florists.

and I catch up over winter and give the website an overhaul and she keeps me on target, you all informed through the newsletter (when I write them- one will be with you by the end of the week) and if I need some technical work doing then she’s always my first port of call.

Diogo is my right hand man. He’s brave enough to lend me his tools and has taught me how to point brick work and if anything breaks he’s there pretty quickly. He has built my studio tables and the flower arranging benches as I asked and I now love working in these spaces.

started her photography journey at the same time as I started growing flowers and we’ve worked together many times. Most recently she came and took photos of ‘The Seed Pod’ and I look forward to sharing them with you very soon.

The flower farm is quite a family affair too. Olly is now a strapping lad and so I do give him the heavier work when he’s about. Dad helps when he is able to - often from a tractor seat but I don’t mind that at all as he is like a whirlwind and gets it all done very efficiently. Mum and my aunt are great at whisking me away to recharge batteries but also helping with some planting projects, greenhouse building or a more gentle afternoon in the greenhouse pricking out seedlings - I have to say this is a favourite thing to do with Joyce.

Most importantly perhaps it’s you the customer because without you I couldn’t grow all of the beautiful flowers that I do.

01/01/2025

💥 2025 flowers incoming 💥

Happy new year - 2025 is set to be amazing.

The flowers are looking the best they ever have at this time of year. I have anemones budding up, the ranunculus are really starting to grow now. New and old beautiful daffodil and tulip varieties are starting to push through the soil.

I won’t start sowing seeds until the light levels return enough in the 3rd week of February but the green house has an amazing crop of larkspur in it ready to plant out when the soil warms and they are big enough to survive the slugs - gosh let’s hope we don’t have as many this year as we did last!

My diary is comfortably full of weddings - it’s not rammed this year which is how I would like it. More room for workshops, tours and small groups to come for hen dos and birthdays for creative sessions with both dried and fresh flowers. I will be releasing workshop dates next week but one date for your diary is the August bank holiday sat/sun 23/24 when I will opening the gates for . Come and have a wander of the flower beds, ask questions and enjoy the floral displays that I will be creating foam free the day before in a workshop here for anyone wanting to have a go at some larger installations.

I’m really looking forward to the season starting - if you would like buckets of flowers for weddings or parties then let me know and I can help. If you would like to grow your own flowers then you can join me for my growing workshops- one on March 1st and the other is a series of mornings through the season for hands on growing.

If you would like to learn some sustainable flower arranging skills and have a relaxing few hours of creative me time then I am definitely your girl. I can’t wait to welcome you through the studio door and let you put an apron on and let loose with the secateurs. ✂️ 🌷

💐 here’s to 2025 💐🥰

31/12/2024

Thank you everyone for your support this year.

I’m not going to lie - myself and other growers have had a difficult year weather and slug pressure wise but I’ve really enjoyed growing flowers for your events, giving you tours and helping you to arrange flowers to take home and hopefully inspiring you to grow some yourself.

I really do appreciate your support through buying flowers or workshops, smiles at market and a like or comment on social media- I’m easily pleased.

Thank you all and I can’t wait to grow flowers for you in 2025.

21/12/2024

Today is the winter solstice, the shortest day and the longest night.

It won’t be too long until we notice the days stretching out and more signs of spring. I am delighted to have a few hellebores in flower and the daffodils are pushing through the soil. I can also see buds developing on the shrubs that provide spring blossom so they will fatten over the coming weeks ready to start the new season in March.

I will be intending to hunker down a little (I’ve spent the day cleaning the house and I’m not sure I’ve made much impression as yet- it will be tidy by February when I’m back out on the flower farm). In the meantime I’ll just be checking on the poly tunnels and doing light waterings, I’ve still got some larkspur to pot on but they look great and will be planted out in the early spring.

I’m sure I may have said it last autumn but I definitely intend to grow more flowers to dry next year. I did this year but then sold them fresh - even more required next year! I’ve some really exciting new and unusual dried flower workshops in the pipeline for you. I may be able to offer one or two in the spring but I’m really enjoying being in the studio now that it’s warm and bright and inspiring for creativity so I’ll definitely be growing more next year so that we can create beautiful long lasting arrangements for you to take home and enjoy.

Tomorrow’s job as it’s Yule tide is to get the Christmas tree in and set up- & to buy a door knocker so that I can finally have a wreath of my own.

For now though I will try to work my way through my pile of reading and keep the fire going.

Happy winter solstice and Yule tide 🪵 🔥 🌲 ☀️

15/12/2024

The Flower Farm keeps moving. The seasons come and go and winter means that I can do maintenance and improvements to infrastructure. Last year was the new greenhouse and sorting out the cider mill as a secure place for conditioning and arranging flowers. The studio also had windows, a big paint job and a new floor to make it a much nicer environment for guests to be in.

My old chicken run finally got planted with some beds of gorgeous trees, unusual shrubs and a wind break picking hedge.

It has been a pleasure to invite many people through the gate and onto the flower field and also into the studio for sustainable flower arranging workshops.

Next years project is lined up to start very soon. I’m going to increase my growing space to add 24 x 10 m beds for herbaceous perennials and annuals. These will be with narrower paths, covered in mypex as I have couch grass which drives me insane for the amount of time to try to keep on top of it - and yes it’s beating me. This patch will be square, level and I hope easier to manage so in my first series of video tours when I said about my wet beds on the bank with the alstroemeria - that will become a willow bed and I plan to move plants into new beds in the spring.

It’s going to be a mamouth task but having followed the flowers from the farm account, I’ve seen many driven growers doing and achieving it so I’ve been inspired and feel more confident with my plans.

Thank you for joining me this week, it’s been a pleasure. Good luck with your growing and arranging and I wish everyone a happy Christmas 🎄

30/11/2024

It’s still busy on the flower farm. This week I have planted out my autumn sown sweet peas for early blooms in the poly tunnel.

I have planted the ranunculus too which all look really strong and healthy.

I have picked the last of the fresh flowers this week for a florist order and my subscription flowers. I’m still picking foliage and ingredients for the Christmas wreath workshops which start tomorrow to be supplemented with some of the summers bounty that has been dried.

I’m also very pleased to have booked a week away in a gorgeous little cottage by the river in the New Forest for after Christmas. Time for some walking, reading and relaxing before the flowers now planted are ready to harvest.

If you would like to grow cut flowers- for yourself or to sell then Jo and I are running a one day Introduction to growing cut flowers on March 1st. You will learn the best times for sowing, planting and how to then harvest and condition your flowers as well as the varieties we love and the suppliers that we use.

There are many methods of growing but some are much better suited to flower farming rather than gardening and we compare the pros and cons of poly tunnel, greenhouse or outdoor growing and raised bed versus in the ground. It really is a very informative day in the studio with a hefty handout to take home along with some seeds and oodles of enthusiasm and a plan for your plot.

Tea, coffee and lunch are provided and there will be a tour of the flower farm during the day too. This workshop has sold out each November and March when we have run it so please do book your ticket as places are selling. Tickets are available via my website www.theledburyflowerfarmer.co.uk and via the link in the bio at the top of my page.