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An old tureen filled with floating cut flowers in late spring by Queen of the Meadow: philadelphus, early white cosmos daisies, dog daisies, blue borage and cornflowers, yellow loosestrife and orange geums.

Celebrating 10 years of Flowers from the Farm

In February 2021, we celebrated our first flowery decade. Read more about how Flowers from the Farm began, its achievements and how through collaboration and hard work we continue to spread the word about beautiful British blooms.

Gill explains how Flowers from the Farm has grown beyond what she ever imagined when she set it up in 2011.

A decade of Flowers from the Farm

Since 2011, FFTF has welcomed over 1000 member businesses. With an ethos of friendliness, and of collaboration over competition, FFTF has kept these values at its core.

2011 - Gill Hodgson starts FFTF

Overwhelmed by the public response to her scented British bunches at Driffield Farmers’ Market, Gill turns her passion for flowers into a business. At her breakfast table in Yorkshire, she decides to set up a flower growers organisation. Gill and her daughter are the first member business with Fieldhouse Flowers.

2018 - Gill becomes honorary president

After 7 years at the top, and 540 member businesses later, Gill becomes Honorary President of FFTF. Regional co-ordinators lead activities in their areas across the UK. Paula Baxter (Millpond Flower Farm) and Linda Clark (Spotted Dog Flower Company) are appointed the first Co-Chairs for FFTF.

2018 - RHS Chelsea gold medal!

Bouyed by FFTF’s gold medal haul at county and RHS flower shows, Gill secretly submits an application for RHS Chelsea. More than 90 members pull together with flower donations, logistics and helping hands to build our “Going to Market” display and we’re ecstatic to win gold. This spotlight on FFTF takes membership numbers to nearly 600.

2019 - First Flower Farmers' Big Weekend

Flowers from the Farm launches its own special weekend with members inviting the public onto their flower farms to see where their cut flowers are grown, and to meet the people who grow them. More than 100 members take part with pick your own days, opportunities for tea and cake in their flower plots, workshops and demonstrations. Membership numbers pass 700.

2020 - Lockdown and Diversity Initiative

Covid crisis hits the UK. Lockdown sees demand for locally grown bouquets surge as people look to support small independent businesses and to send floral hugs to friends and family. Diversity Action Group is launched in response to the Black Lives Matter movement. Diversity scholarships set up to encourage BPOC flower growers.

2021 - FFTF reaches 1000 members

5 Diversity Scholarhships awarded. FFTF recruits its 1000th member in the week of the 10th anniversay. Gill confesses amazement and delight at the growth in the movement she founded at her breakfast table. Flowers from the Farm now has members in every part of the UK, including a growing number in Northern Ireland.

Our big achievements

Lacy umbellifers for the coronation displays at Westminster Abbey by Shane Connolly,

Flowers for the Coronation

Working with renowned floral designer, Shane Connolly, Flowers from the Farm was proud and delighted to make a gift of seasonal, locally grown blooms from all corners of the UK to decorate the Coronation.

Flora the straw horse strides out at RHS Chelsea on FFTF's Going to Market display, pulling a flower laden cart along a meadow path.

Gold and foam free at RHS Chelsea

Flowers from the Farm was the first organisation to build a Chelsa floristry display without the use of floral foam – proving that it’s possible to arrange flowers using more sustainable methods and still achieve fantastic results.

An arrangement of summer British cut flowers: orange zinnias, rudbeckia cones, yellow berries and orange trailing nasturtiums in a small earthenware vase by Harebell and Bee.

Our Diversity Action Group

In 2020, in response to the Black Lives Matters movement, a group of members came together to form our Diversity Action Group to ensure that the policy of including people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalised is at the heart of how we move forward.