Masterclass in seasonal, sustainable cut flower growing and arranging
Sow, arrange and learn about how to have a year of sustainably cut flowers
£150/person
Location: Ashwell Flower Farm (SG7)
Date: Sat 12th April 2025 (plus a September date will be added shortly - email your details to be advised when this date is released
Time 10am - 4.00pm
This busy, full day workshop is for people who wish to grow and arrange seasonal cut flowers for business or pleasure. You’ll learning and gain experience from two tutors – horticulturalist, flower grower and wedding florist Alison Down (@_bohoflowers) and the owner of Ashwell Flowers farm, grower Barbara Lohoar (@ashwellflowers). In the morning, after a tour of Ashwell Flower Farm, we’ll discuss how and what cut flowers to grow and how this can support us all as we move to a more sustainable future. We’ll then get hands on sowing a range of appropriate successional hardy and half hard seeds for you to take home. There’s no need to take notes as you’ll receive a comprehensive booklet covering all you need to get your cut flower patch delivering flowers for you all season long. We’ll also seek out some self sown seedlings around the farm to add to your flower patch.
After a light lunch we’ll discuss the key sustainable mechanics of flower arranging that support having less impact on the environment – again you’ll receive comprehensive notes and information about suppliers and materials. Alison will then guide you in making a beautiful arrangement to take home. In April this will be a long, low, natural style arrangement encompassing the quintessential beauty of fresh, scented, seasonal and locally grown flowers. In September we’ll make an Ombre with Dahlias selecting and making an arrangement with an impactful tonal beauty. At the end of the day – we’ll all sit down for a well deserved rest and share a glass of bubbles to admire our work.
This is both a practical and creative workshop where you’ll learn through doing and listening where you will return with new skills, planted seeds and seedlings and a unique creation to inspire.
Your workshop price includes a light lunch and all materials.
Directions and parking information will be provided after booking.
Summer Flowers Workshop
Create a low-bowl centre piece
and enjoy a short tour of
Ashwell Flowers flower farm - £75.
Date: July 17th 2022
Time 2.30 - 5pm
Join us for a seasonal celebration of British flowers at beautiful Ashwell Flower Farm.
We start by exploring Ashwell Flower Farm and I'll talk you through my journey so far in cultivating British blooms and share tips on growing cut flowers and harvesting them correctly for your enjoyment.
Floral Designer Lizzie Cree will then demonstrate and guide you through creating your own natural, garden-style low-bowl arrangement focusing on texture, form and style using British ingredients. The floral bowl will be yours to keep.
We'll then style the table using your centre pieces, take photographs and provide tips on photographing flowers and capturing your creation. Finally we’ll sit down for a glass of bubbles to reflect on the day and enjoy your seasonal arrangements before you take them home.
Refreshments and all practical materials and flowers will be provided. The workshop will last around two and a half hours - three hours. Covid-19 guidelines will be in place as appropriate. Advice on local accommodation available.
Flowers Farmer Experience - £50 including flowers.
Join me for an afternoon or morning on the farm.
Aspiring flower farmer or just looking for something a little different to do or gift? Come and spend half a day with me working on the flower farm and, when in season, cut your very own flowers to take away and arrange when you get home. We’ll do lots of activities from sowing and potting on, planting out and weeding and of course cutting and conditioning your flowers.
Ashwell Flower Farm is in a beautiful location in the stunning medieval village of Ashwell on the North Hertfordshire border.
Dates: contact me to discuss: April to the end of September.
Gift certificate available.