New Covent Garden Flower Market staged a Best of British Flowers event for the floristry trade, in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
The variety and versatility of seasonal British flowers and plants were showcased at the Nine Elms site, which was broadcast on BB Breakfast and BBC London.
The event addressed the practical questions around how to start sourcing locally.
Sarah Raven, the BBC Gardener’s World presenter and a crusader for British cut flowers, hosted floristry’s answer to Ready, Steady, Cook on the market stage.
The pick of British growers, including David Guscott from Greenlines Nursery, Carolyn Whetman from Whetman Pinks and Danaë Duthy from County Roses, provided product that was turned into inspirational floral designs by top celebrity florists and supporters of London’s flower market, including designers from McQueens, Moyses Stevens, Bloomsbury Flowers, Pollen Nation and Jamie Aston Flowers.
More than 600 additional visitors came to the market for the event, which ran alongside the normal trading day.
Helen Evans, information officer at the Covent Garden Market Authority, told FPJ: “Local food is on everyone’s agenda, and there has been an increase in British flowers - this is something that has always been the market’s strength. This event is a way of letting people know where they can tap into and also show our support for UK growers, which is why we have put designers and growers on stage together. We want florist to get more out of the market than just buying flowers.”
The next event at the flower market will be the first Colombia: A Land of Flowers event, on May 28, followed by an event geared at world flowers in October.
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