Field to Florist Masterclass

From growing seasonal British flowers to creating beautiful floristry

Come and enjoy a day at Birch Farm Flowers learning how to grow, harvest and work with seasonal British flowers.

Working in a small group, this one-day immersive masterclass brings together horticulture and floristry, following the journey of a flower from field to florist.

Presented by Elizabeth Finlow of Birch Farm Flowers and Joanne Fletcher of Fletcher & Foley Floral Design, the day combines Elizabeth's experience of growing flowers commercially with Joanne's 16 years of experience as a wedding and event florist.

Who is this masterclass for?

This masterclass is for anyone who wants to grow and work with their own seasonal British flowers.

It is particularly suited to those thinking about setting up a small flower farm or cut-flower business, who may also want to offer DIY wedding flowers or develop their own floristry skills.

It is also for anyone who simply wants to grow beautiful flowers for pleasure, share them with friends and family and learn how to turn what they grow into beautiful arrangements.

And if you're already a florist and want to work more confidently with seasonal British-grown flowers, you'll gain plenty from the day too.

Whether you're growing for business or pleasure, we'll show you how to get the best from your flowers, from the field to the finished arrangement.

In the Field

Elizabeth will start the day with a tour of Birch Farm Flowers and share the practical knowledge gained from running a working flower farm.

We'll cover:

• Choosing what to grow, flower varieties that make good cutting and floristry flowers and how to plan a productive cutting garden.

• Seasonal planting and planning, succession sowing, flowering times and planning your growing season.

• Harvesting and conditioning, when to cut, how to cut and how to prepare flowers for the best vase life.

• Growing for DIY weddings and floristry, creating DIY wedding buckets, choosing complementary flowers and foliage, pricing and preparing flowers for collection or delivery.

• Understanding the florist, what florists and their customers are looking for, how to approach florists and build relationships.

• The realities of growing for floristry, timescales, quantities, weather, crop failures, practical pitfalls and the flowers Elizabeth wouldn't grow again.

There will be plenty of opportunity to ask questions and discuss your own growing plans, whether you're growing for business, weddings or pleasure.

In the Barn

In the afternoon Joanne will share her experience of more than 16 years as a wedding and event florist.

We'll look at British-grown flowers from the florist's perspective and explore how to get the best from seasonal flowers.

We'll cover:

• What florists and their customers are looking for, colour, shape, texture, flower form and the expectations of wedding and event clients.

• Working with seasonal British flowers, their characteristics, seasonality and how to make the most of what is available.

• Creating colour palettes, combining seasonal flowers, foliage and texture to create beautiful, cohesive designs.

• Floristry tools, sundries and mechanics, the essentials you'll need and how to use them.

• Design and mechanics, creating natural, beautiful and balanced designs with British-grown flowers.

• Packaging and presentation, preparing flowers professionally for customers, weddings and events.

• Delivery and wedding work, preparing, transporting and presenting flowers for an event.

Joanne will also demonstrate how she creates a bridal bouquet and buttonhole, explaining her design choices, mechanics and techniques as she works.

From Field to Florist

The day brings both perspectives together. You'll discover what makes a good flower for floristry, how to grow and prepare it, what florists and their customers are looking for and how those flowers can ultimately be transformed into beautiful arrangements.

Whether you're a grower wanting to understand floristry, a florist wanting to work more with British-grown flowers, or simply someone who wants to grow and arrange your own flowers, you'll gain knowledge you can take away and use.

What you'll take away

As well as a full day of practical learning, discussion and inspiration, you'll receive:

A seasonal sowing list, essential perennial recommendations, bouquet design notes from Joanne, practical growing and floristry knowledge to refer back to.

Most importantly, you'll leave with a better understanding of how to get the best from your flowers, how to grow them, when to cut them, how to prepare them and how to use them in floristry.

The Day

The day is split into two sessions, with the morning in the field and the afternoon in the barn.

We'll take a break for a light lunch. Sandwiches, tea, coffee and homemade cake will be provided, and dietary requirements can be catered for.

Please bring a notepad and pen and suitable clothing and footwear for spending time outdoors.

Investment

£300 per person

Payment can be split into two instalments. Please email us if you'd like to arrange this and we'll set up a payment plan.

Places are limited to keep the group small and give everyone plenty of opportunity to ask questions and get involved.

Book your place

We'd love you to join us at Birch Farm Flowers for a day exploring the journey from field to florist and discovering just how much you can do with flowers grown right here in Britain.