Local flowers - beauty, sustainability and supporting local business

Do you ever think about where your cut flowers come from?

How we can have roses in the shops in February?

This global industry has a huge carbon footprint, bringing blooms grown in Africa and South America via the Netherlands to Scotland’s supermarkets and florists. However, there is an alternative.

British flower farmers have been steadily increasing in number and visibility in the last few years, and Olivia Thomas of Lark Rose is one of them. Based in Troon, she’s renovating a walled garden farm site between Troon and Symington, focused on sustainability and bringing beautiful local flowers back to Ayrshire.

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‘I was stunned to find out what a high environmental cost there is for a luxury product like flowers - I don’t think any of us stop to consider where our flowers come from before they get to the flower auctions in Holland. Lots of varieties are only available in the UK because they can’t be transported. When you buy direct from your local flower farmer, or ask your florist for British flowers, you’re getting the benefits of better flowers that directly improve your local environment as well as the global benefits.?Plus you get seasonal, unique flowers that break the generic norm. You can make a difference!’

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Lark Rose provides local bunches and bouquets, plus buckets for flower arrangers and DIY weddings, and Olivia also sells to local florists.

Find out more at www.larkrose.co.uk