Have you ever wondered where the flowers you pick up in the supermarket were grown, or how they travelled? Most cut flowers bought in this country were grown in England until just thirty years ago, but the industry declined due to the growth of the flower industry in Holland. The Dutch flower auctions in Holland now dominate the world flower trade. 

Imported flowers are flown into the United Kingdom from Columbia and Ethiopia, usually via a further stop in Holland. Due to long haul air travel, they have a large carbon footprint. Most imported flowers have been sprayed many times, with different chemicals which are used to prolong their shelf life in shops, and enable the flowers to survive extended journeys. The impact of the chemicals on the farmworkers and the water systems in these countries is well documented. 

Cornwall has a long history of flower farming: from the Isle of Scilly to the banks of the Tamar Valley in the North of the county. The beginning of the last century saw wagon loads of seasonal flowers board the famous “flower train”, which ran from Penzance in West Cornwall to the heart of the English flower trade in London – Covent Garden flower market. 

The British flower growing year offers many varieties, with different flowers at their best in different seasons, just as nature intended. By buying local flowers, you will know that they have been sown, grown and harvested without having travelled halfway around the world.

The “flower train” may be a thing of the past, but little by little, local growers across the country are working to provide you with a more sustainable way to enjoy the pleasure of flowers.

“Let us permit nature to have her way; she understands her business better than we do”.

Michel de Montaigne

Our farm growing season is from April to October. We are lucky in Cornwall in that our flower growing season is longer than most other areas of the country, due to our milder maritime climate. Outside of our own growing months, we are able to use flowers from the balmy Isles of Scilly as well as Lincolnshire.

Keep scrolling to see examples of seasonal flowers ….