British Blooms & Brilliant People: What Made British Flowers Week Special

British Flowers Week is always one of our favourites. A time to pause, celebrate and champion the beauty of flowers grown right here in the UK – and the brilliant people behind them. It’s the kind of week that reminds us why we do what we do, and just how powerful seasonal floristry can be.

This year, we marked the week in a way that felt completely true to us – with thoughtful workshops, time spent with brilliant flower growers, talented florists, lovely conversations, and plenty of seasonal beauty. It was a celebration of everything that matters to us at The Bath Flower School: connection, learning, and flowers with a story.

Monday: Hello Summer!

We began the week at the flower school with our Hello Summer! workshop – a relaxed, hands-on day filled with British flowers, colour, and the sort of calm creativity we all needed on a Monday. Students made hand-tied bouquets and meadow box arrangements using the most beautiful stems from Lou at @bohemian_blooms.

The flower stand looked utterly dreamy – vases overflowing with Larkspur, Mallow, Cornflowers, Nepeta, Sweet Peas, Achillea, Ammi and more. Plenty of moments were spent admiring the flowers and each other’s work – the kind of Monday that leaves you smiling all the way home.

Tuesday: Weeds, sunhats and flower farm realness

We swapped our floristry scissors for gardening gloves and spent the day with Lou at Bohemian Blooms on her Somerset flower farm. The sun was out, the beds needed weeding, and we were more than happy to muck in.

There’s something grounding about stepping into the grower’s world – where floristry starts not with colour palettes or designs, but with soil, sunlight, and a lot of hard work. Every stem we use begins here, and it was a privilege to be part of that process, even just for a day.

Hopefully we were more help than hindrance – and that Lou might even let us come back?!?

Field-grown flowers and floral magic at Compton Garden Flowers

Next up, we headed to the Somerset countryside for the loveliest day with Sarah at Compton Garden Flowers. We took a group of students to visit her beautiful flower farm, starting with a walk through the beds and a chance to talk all things growing and seasonality.

Lunch was a picnic in the shade, shared amongst flowers and conversation. Afterwards, back under the trees, Saffy demoed before everyone got to work creating their own hand-tied bouquet using freshly cut flowers from the farm. The whole day felt full of warmth, generosity, and that unmistakable spark you get when people come together over flowers. Rooted, seasonal, inspiring – everything British Flowers Week is about.

Huge thanks to Sarah and Bob for making us all feel so welcome.

Friday: A Bold Finale with Bloom & Burn

We ended British Flowers Week on a high, welcoming the wonderful Graeme Corbett of Bloom and Burn for a sold-out masterclass at the flower school. His style is instantly recognisable – sculptural, joyful and full of personality – and it was such a treat to see his creative process unfold.

The day was a mix of demonstration, design, and proper hands-on making. Students explored bold shapes, sustainable mechanics and colour in all its glory, bringing their own spin to the brief with Graeme’s expert guidance along the way.

The flower school was buzzing with flowery chat, laughter, and of course, armfuls of the very best British-grown flowers. A brilliant end to a week that reminded us just how inspiring seasonal floristry can be.

And that’s a wrap on British Flowers Week 2025

British Flowers Week at The Bath Flower School was everything we hoped it would be – full of the most beautiful British flowers, thoughtful teaching, and the kind of energy that comes from gathering like minded people together.

Each day brought something different: creativity in the flower school, time on the flower farms, honest conversations, and joyful moments of learning. It reminded us that floristry isn’t just about what you make – it’s about where your flowers come from, how you use them, and the stories they tell.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us, supported us, and cheered on British flowers this week. We feel so lucky to be part of such a brilliant community. Same time next year? We hope so!

A New Era for Farewell Flowers

Image from Farewell Flowers - Carol Patilla

Chelsea Gold Marks New Era for Sustainable Sympathy Floristry

At The Bath Flower School, we’ve long believed that farewell flowers should be as unique as the life they’re honouring. Gone are the days when sympathy floristry meant uniformity, floral foam, and stiff, formal arrangements. We see flowers for funerals as a final act of love - personal, expressive, and, increasingly sustainable.

This year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show proved that the floristry world is finally catching up. In a ground breaking moment, the Farewell Flowers collective made history by winning a Gold Medal—the first ever awarded for a sustainable funeral flower installation in the show’s 112-year history.

Their display wasn’t just beautiful—it was profound. At the heart of it stood a willow coffin, adorned with abundant, seasonal British flowers. These blooms cascaded into a soft, meadow-like scene that blended grief with beauty, stillness with celebration. No floral foam. No single-use plastics. Just fresh flowers, natural materials, and meaning in every detail.

What made the exhibit truly powerful were the personal touches: a pair of walking boots filled with garden-style flowers, a violin crafted from petals and stems, a living wreath. Each element invited reflection and connection, reminding us that funerals don’t need to follow a rigid formula. They can be as expressive and individual as the people we’re saying goodbye to.

The collective’s win was more than a medal - it was a statement! It marked a shift in public consciousness, proving that funeral flowers can be sustainable and stunning. It showed that our industry can - and must - evolve with changing values, especially as more families turn to natural burials, celebrant led ceremonies, and eco conscious alternatives that better reflect the lives of their loved ones.

Image from Farewell Flowers - Andrew Gilpin Photography

Leading with Heart and Conscience

This is exactly why we developed our Sustainable Sympathy Flowers course at The Bath Flower School. It’s a two day, hands on experience designed to give florists the skills, confidence, and creative freedom to meet this growing demand.

You’ll learn how to make naturally styled, foam free funeral arrangements using techniques that are not only sustainable, but also adaptable and commercially viable. We’ll cover everything from living wreaths and sympathy sheafs to casket top arrangements, all while encouraging you to explore your own style and values.

You’ll also gain thoughtful insight from our guest speaker, Sally Cook of Bath Natural Burial Meadow. Sally shares her knowledge of natural burials and how families are choosing more sustainable, personal ways to say goodbye. She offers a gentle behind the scenes look at what’s involved, creating space for open conversation - no question is too small. This session is always a grounding and memorable part of the course.

Working with the Seasons

At the heart of our teaching is a love for seasonal, locally grown flowers. As always at The Bath Flower School, the flowers take centre stage. We carefully select the freshest blooms available and when we can source them from our trusted network of British growers. This supports small flower farms and helps your arrangements reflect the natural rhythm and richness of each season.

Join the Movement

The message from Chelsea is loud and clear: sustainable sympathy floristry is no longer niche, it’s necessary! And as florists, we have the opportunity to lead this change with creativity, compassion, and care.

Whether you're a beginner looking to specialise or a seasoned florist ready to pivot, our Sustainable Sympathy Flowers course offers a chance to align your work with your values and give families something truly meaningful at life’s most tender moments.

Let flowers say it all

In moments of loss, flowers have the quiet power to speak when words fall short. By embracing a more thoughtful, sustainable approach, we’re not just creating arrangements - we’re honouring lives in a way that feels true, kind, and lasting. We’d love to welcome you to The Bath Flower School to be part of this important shift.

It’s More Than Just the Flowers!

At The Bath Flower School, we’ve had the pleasure of welcoming countless students over the years, and if there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that our courses are about far more than just beautiful flowers. Yes, our workshops are abundant with the most gorgeous flowers and beautiful creative arrangements, but the true magic lies in the experience — the personal growth, the joy of creating, and the connections formed along the way.

Teaching for us is truly and honour and a privilege as we continually get to impart our knowledge and experience with our students. Obviously, we are being completely biased but here’s why our courses offer something truly special:

A Safe, Relaxed Environment
We’ve always believed that the best learning happens when students feel relaxed and comfortable. That’s why we’ve created a calm and inviting space at The Bath Flower School. It’s not just a classroom — it’s a sanctuary. A space where students can step away from the busyness of daily life and immerse themselves in creativity without pressure, only joy. From the moment they walk through our doors, they notice the difference. We’re warm, patient, and dedicated to helping each student find their creative spark. Whether attending for a few hours or a longer course, students are encouraged to explore their own style, leaving confident that they’ve gained something truly special.

Flower Therapy
There’s a serene quality to working with flowers that transcends the ordinary. As you engage with nature’s vibrant blooms, shaping and arranging them with your own hands, you enter a tranquil space that invites mindfulness. This experience encourages you to pause, focus, and truly connect with the present moment. At The Bath Flower School, we see this process as more than just acquiring a skill; it’s a therapeutic journey that fosters emotional well-being and creativity, allowing participants to express themselves in beautiful and meaningful ways.

 A School That Listens
One of the things that makes The Bath Flower School special is our genuine interest in our students. We pride ourselves on being a school that truly listens. Call us nosey, but we love hearing about their lives, passions and what they are hoping to get out of their time with us.  Every student comes with their own story, and by understanding this, we can tailor our teaching to suit their individual needs.

 We don’t teach a one-size-fits-all approach to floristry. We believe each student should discover their own creative voice, and we take the time to help them get there. Whether developing a new hobby or refining their skills, we ensure each student leaves connected to floristry, feeling confident and inspired.

 The Flower School Community
One of the things we are proud of most about our school is the incredible community we have built. When floristry students join one of our workshops, they’re not just learning from our expert florists, they’re becoming part of a warm, welcoming community of like-minded individuals. Whether they’re complete beginners or have years of experience, our courses are designed to bring people together. In these moments, friendships are forged, and it’s clear how much students appreciate being surrounded by others who share their passion. It’s not just about creating beautiful arrangements, it’s about sharing inspiration, laughing together, and encouraging each other as we learn.

Our Aftercare
Students don’t just walk out the door and say goodbye and we leave them to it. We at The Bath Flower School are committed to their aftercare. No question is too silly, and support is always at hand. The school is dedicated to helping students on their floristry journey long after their workshops conclude. For those in longer courses (two days or more), a dedicated forum allows past students to stay connected, ask questions, share ideas, and continue their learning—a vibrant community that fosters growth long after the workshops have ended.

Embrace Your Creativity
At The Bath Flower School, we’re passionate about what we do, and we want to share that passion with you. Whether you’re looking for a creative escape, eager to learn new skills, or simply curious about the world of floristry, we invite you to come and experience it for yourself.

Join one of our workshops, immerse yourself in the beauty of flowers, and become part of a community that nurtures creativity and connection. With our supportive environment, tailored teaching, and ongoing aftercare, you’ll see why The Bath Flower School is more than just about flowers — it’s about finding joy, inspiration, and a sense of belonging 

If you’re ready to explore your creativity, visit our courses page and find the perfect workshop for you.

4 Days to Wedding Flower Success: Learn, Create, and Thrive

If you're passionate about creating stunning wedding florals and want to master refine your wedding skills, our 4-day Wedding Flowers Course is perfect for you! Held twice a year, this comprehensive course is designed to equip florists both new and experienced with the skills, techniques, and confidence to create beautiful, profitable, and stress-free wedding flowers.
The organisation for this course is off the scale but completely worth it as the rewards for us as teachers and the outcomes for the students are immense.

What we love most about our Wedding Flowers Course is the exclusive, behind-the-scenes insight it provides. Over four intensive days, we teach florists how to create stunning, stress-free wedding flowers while maximizing profitability. It’s a deep dive into every aspect of wedding floristry, from creative design to the logistics of running a successful floral business.

What does the course look like?
Days 1, 2 & 3
During the first three days of our 4-day Wedding Flowers Course students join us, Saffy and Verity in our welcoming school room in Larkhall, Bath. This part of the course is all about getting hands-on with flowers and enjoying the process.

We teach students how to create essential wedding florals, including bouquets (which we make twice on different days for extra practice) and explore new ideas for pew ends. We also make flower crowns, buttonholes, corsages, and table centrepieces.

Alongside the practical work, we cover the important logistics of wedding floristry. This includes understanding costings, stem counts, and design principles, as well as how to communicate effectively with clients. We also discuss terms and conditions, insurance, and strategies for ensuring a wedding runs smoothly from start to finish. Our goal is to make these potentially daunting aspects of wedding planning more approachable and manageable.

After Day 3, while the students head home, we get to work behind the scenes. Through a flurry of lifting, van journeys, and packing, we transform the wedding venue overnight. By the next morning, the venue is set up with all the elements needed for a full day of learning, complete with props and flowers ready for the finale installation and photoshoot.

 Day 4
Photoshoot Day. We treat this part of the course as if it were a real-life wedding!

The students' task is to create one major floral installation that becomes the focal point of the venue. This could be a grand archway or a striking arrangement around a key architectural feature like a doorway or window. Working as a team and guided by us, they use a large variety of beautiful flowers and foliage to create a showstopping, natural-looking installation. An installation that is totally foam free and uses all sustainable techniques to achieve this.

When the magic happens…
On the morning of Day 4, we’re joined by professional wedding photographer Andrea Gilpin, who captures the day's events and provides portfolio images for the students to use on their websites and social media. We also bring in a model to act as the bride, dressed in wedding dresses chosen and styled by Kate from Ashwell and Co and a makeup artist to ensure the bride looks picture-perfect. This setup allows the students to experience working with other creatives in a real-world context.

This final day transforms into a styled shoot extravaganza. With top-notch professionals and the best flowers available, the students put their skills to the test, creating something truly magnificent. For us, this day feels like magic. All the hard work and learning culminate in a fast-paced, exciting event that showcases the students' achievements. Though a whirlwind of a day, the learning curve for the students is immense. Watching them shine and achieve so much is incredibly rewarding for us, and we always feel immensely proud of them and what they have achieved.

For many students, this might be their first time creating something on such a grand scale, and the excitement of working with a wide array of flowers and having the freedom to design is truly palpable. We believe that the best learning happens through doing, so after offering a few suggestions and instructions, we prefer to step back and let the students experiment and solve problems on their own, only stepping in if something seems unsafe or they’re unsure.

While students may occasionally need guidance on scale or arrangement order, we’re always impressed by their results. It’s not that we doubt their capabilities, but they often exceed our expectations. This success is largely due to the freedom to explore and experiment. The end result is always a resounding “wow,” and the sense of pride and satisfaction among the group is palpable.

As well as working as a team, each student also has the opportunity to work individually with the bride, showcasing their wedding bouquets in various settings. Whether in front of the installation, outside, or up close with the bride’s dress, while the photographer provides tips to capture their work at its best.

Additionally, students take turns styling a dining table with the floral bowl arrangements they created the previous day. They use candles, napkins, tablecloths, runners, plates, cutlery, and glassware to complement their floral designs. This setup allows each student to present their work in a way that reflects their personal style, ensuring that the portfolio images truly represent the type of work they want to pursue in the future.

As teachers, we find immense satisfaction in knowing that the impressive floral creations on the final day are supported by a deep understanding of the behind-the-scenes work needed for a successful wedding. We’re confident that by the end of the course, students are well-equipped to organise their work, design beautiful arrangements, manage flowers effectively, and handle clients professionally while ensuring profitability.

BLOGGING IS BACK!

Who’s this blog for?

For anyone that is interested in flowers, floristry, weddings, becoming a florist, flower school gossip, seasonality, sustainability, foam free floristry, teaching, running a business, women in business, partnerships and cake then this is the place that we are going to talk about all these things and more. We have so much information, experience, tales, facts, ideas, and tips and feel the need to share it.

For those who are new to us, welcome!

The Bath Flower School is nestled in Larkhall, a charming village just on the outskirts of central Bath. Our school celebrates the beauty of flowers and the creativity of florists. Run by us Saffy and Verity. We are both incredibly proud of our flower school and all that that we have achieved since we first started in 2019. We both have a ton of previous experience with flowers, floristry and floristry teaching- but since we teamed together and created The Bath Flower school, our knowledge and insight has soared. We thought it was about time to spread the love by writing some things down in a blog.

Finding Our Voice: Embracing the Blogging Journey

Whilst both of us are known for being chatty and love sharing insights (while keeping it professional, of course), writing a blog feels a bit more daunting and comes with the pressure to make it a great read. Luckily, there are so many good blog writers out there for inspiration and guidance. We particularly love Studio Cotton - a must go to for anyone looking to write a blog, boost their SEO, or run a small business. Their posts are practical and often serve as a go-to for inspiration. Additionally, inspiration comes from the new wave of podcasts where interviewers engage their guests in a relaxed manner and openly share their own quirks.

What to Expect from The Bath Flower School Blog

The plan is to write blogs that offer insight into The Bath Flower School—exploring what inspires us and drives our passion. Topics will include seasonal flowers, observations on teaching, the flower school cake recipe (this one is definitely coming), profiles of professionals we admire, highlights of Bath as an amazing city, detailed looks at our courses, favourite suppliers, and floristry techniques.

Join Us on This Journey!

We look forward to sharing this blogging adventure, they’ll be at least 2 posts each month, ensuring there’s always something fresh to explore. We look forward to having you with us!

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80'S INSPIRED SRING PHOTO SHOOT

All the way back in March (which really does seem like a long time ago since the pace of all our schedules has revved up to full pelt now that many COVID restrictions have been lifted), we took part in a collaborative shoot organised by Emma Leivers the person behind Heart Full of Tea. Emma is our resident photographer here at The Bath Flower School, she teaches our students how to take better photos of flowers as well as documenting and taking great pictures of us at work.

This was the second time that Emma had approached us with a collaborative shoot idea. The first time was such a great success, that we knew we were on to a winner. The overall concept for the photo shoot being spring and fresh with a little nod to the 80’s. Celebrating the new emerging season with sunny and happy content that all the other contributors to the shoot could share.

So on a freezing cold, windy Sunday we set about realising Emma’s vision. Many cups of tea, lots of mess, unwrapping of props, model arriving, make up and hair being done, flowers being put together, sandwiches being eaten, photos being taken, lots of laughs followed by exhaustion and this is what happened…

Here are some behind the scenes shots taken by us non professional photographers!

And here are some of Emma’s beautiful images…(the professional ones!!)

We were so lucky with the flowers that we chose for the installation. They were at their peak of perfection. We had Icelandic poppies, anemones, white cherry blossom, ranunculus, pale pink Lysianthus and two types of narcissi. Our floral installation was a draping of spring flowers held in place by a giant snake of chicken wire. Instead of trying to hide our mechanics, we decided to make a feature of it. We sprayed our chicken wire snake fluorescent pink which actually looked lovely on its own without any flowers in it!

With the added freedom of not having to worry about hiding the chicken wire, we were able to give the installation a very light and airy feel. We used only flowers and tree blossom and no foliage at all. The finished look was fresh and zingy like a tube of sherbet sweets.

The beautiful model for the day was Thea, who travelled to us in the morning from Wales. Her look was perfect for the concept of this styled shoot. She was able to look edgy and rebellious as well as ethereal and delicate. Our particular favourites are of her downstairs in our venue in front of the old window.

Demi the hairstylist and Christy the make up artist really did a great job bringing to life Emma’s idea of having a slight nod to the 80’s. The earring supplied by Dakota Rae Dust were the perfect 80’s accessory.

The stunning selection of wedding dresses were supplied by Bath based bridal wear Perfect Day Bride

For us at The Bath Flower School it’s lovely to stay involved with current floristry and to be able to collaborate with like minded creative people. We learn a lot from being around other creatives and find that it feeds our inspiration and excites our appetite for the new and the better. Apparently Emma already has a vision for her next photo shoot, so watch this space!!

DIARY OF A PROFESSIONAL FLORISTRY COURSE

A couple of weeks ago we returned to teaching (after many months of lockdown and restrictions which meant we had to close) and  our first course back was PROFESSIONAL FLORISTY. Not only was it great to be back teaching but even more exciting was that we were in our new location - Lansdown Stores, Bath. On this first course we were joined by six students, all coming from different backgrounds, all wanting to learn ‘the everything’ in order to change their current careers and  become Florists. For those of you that don’t know what our PROFESSIONAL FLORISTRY course is all about, we thought you might like to know exactly what we and the students get up to in these two weeks.

It's a bit of a long one, as we pack quite a lot into this course. You might want to grab a cuppa before you sit down and read…

DAY ONE - INTROS, KOKEDAMA & HAND TIED BOUQUETS

It was a busy and exciting first morning, with getting to know the group, with introductions, chat about floristry equipment, health and safety, what they should expect from the course etc

With the introductions out of the way, we eased our students in gently by getting their hands dirty and making a Kokedama, which is a hanging moss covered plant. Starting as we meant to go on, we then got them to photograph their work and work out the costings: how much all the materials cost, how long it took to make, adding a mark up and profit and coming up with an amount that would need to be charged to the client. We start the process on day one of talking about the business behind the flowers and their creations. The students photograph and price everything they make: for reference, for the future, for instagram, for their portfolios and for their websites. By the end of the course this process will have become second nature.

After a busy and slightly giddy morning we introduced the students to what is probably one of the hardest techniques for any new floristry student - the art of spiralling a hand tied bouquet! With the most beautiful British flowers from Sarah @comptongardenflowers and some technical training – our students totally nailed it. Their bouquets were awesome! After completing their bouquets we had a gift wrapping session. We also discussed and explored different ways of wrapping, keeping the flowers hydrated, delivery, and different styles of bouquets and how they might be presented.

DAY 2 - MEADOWS & COMPOTE ARRANGEMENTS

This day was all about flowers in containers. How to arrange them in a sustainable way using different techniques in order to achieve certain designs. The students found the meadows freeing as they were quick and easy to put together, whilst the compote arrangements were a little trickier as they had to consider many elements of floristry including scale, shape, texture, colour and balance. Afterwards the students explored the school building and came across some inspiring places for their work to be photographed. - it was just as well as they were to be joined by Emma @heartfuloftea for their photography workshop the very next day.

DAY 3 - MEDITATION, PHOGRAPHY WORKSHOP & VASES

First thing in the morning, the lovely Madeline @soulspa.uk came to visit and delivered one of her amazing meditation sessions, tailored specifically for our Professional Floristry students. We sat outside in our lovely courtyard space and Madeline led us off into a meditation journey. Her sessions are such a great way of getting the students to leave behind their inhibitions and visualise their tasks ahead. The emphasis in these sessions is about helping the students to believe in themselves, to be prepared to make mistakes, and about really getting the most out of the course and realising their potential. 20 minutes to sit and be in the moment was the perfect start to the day.

Feeling totally relaxed and inspired we moved on to our photography workshop with The Bath Flower School resident photographer Emma @heartfulloftea. In Emma’s session she teaches the students photography basics, how to get the best out of their camera (or phone mostly) and how to take successful images of their floristry work so that their images will be Instagram worthy. The students really enjoy this session as they get to see immediate results. It’s an important skill to be able to capture and share images of their beautiful arrangements. We (including Emma) were really blown away by the standard of the photography the students achieved.

In the Afternoon it was back to flowers. This time the students got to go bigger than they had  previously by making large vase arrangements. They all really enjoyed  the freedom of this session. It was lovely seeing their individual styles starting to  come through and their confidence starting to really grow. As teachers it’s always fascinating to see everyone’s individual interpretations and see six very different creations made with their chosen selection of flowers.

DAY 4 - SYMPATHY FLOWERS

Today we were joined by the rather wonderful independent funeral director Catherine Miller. Catherine talked with our students about the  process of how to best deal with funeral directors and grieving families. The students and Catherine had an open chat about funerals as a celebration and how flowers don’t need to conform to set traditions. This is such a refreshing and enlightening session with a few tears and some laughs too.

With funerals becoming more and more progressive, we showed the students that flowers need to reflect this. In this session, they did just that. The students made graceful, sustainable, naturally styled, interesting, casket arrangements.

DAY 5 - SOCIAL MEDIA WORKSHOP & LIVING WREATHS

We handed over the reins to the lovely Lou @spark_social for the morning session. She chatted with our students about INSTA’s ins and outs and advised them how best to use the social platform to elevate their business. One of the biggest takeaways from the session was the importance of them sharing their stories and bringing their real selves and personality to their accounts, in order to stand out on INSTAGRAM. Thank you Lou for a really insightful workshop and inspiring our students!! This session is delivered in such a way that whatever level of understanding you have of social media, you will come away with new skills, tips, tricks and an understanding of how best to use it to your advantage.

Social media covered, we then moved onto make living wreaths - there’s something very therapeutic about getting your hands dirty and working with the earthiness of the moss and plants. The making of living wreaths is a really versatile technique to learn as they can be adapted to any season and used in many different ways from funerals to gifts to table centres.

DAY 6 - CONDITIONING, BRANDING & MARKETING WORKSHOP AND BRANDING BOARDS

Learning about conditioning is not the most creative part of our intensive 2 week course, but possibly one of the most important jobs for any florist. We talked to the students about the correct conditioning methods and how important it is in order to get the best out of flowers and foliage. Knowing these techniques and understanding flower care and the different methods needed for different varieties of flowers, is essential for any florist. Of course, not forgetting the importance of having immaculately clean buckets and vases to maximise the lifespan of flowers.

Another day, another expert!! In fact, today we were joined by not one, but two lovely experts…for branding we had Kate @koopdesgn and for marketing there was Jo @jo_mcdiarmrd. It was their first time at the flower school teaching on our PROFESSIONAL FLORISTRY course. Their workshop completely fired up the students, giving them endless ideas and possibilities about how to develop their brands and how best to market them. Thank you Jo and Kate for the informative and inspiring workshop. Afterwards the students were buzzing with ideas.@soulspa.uk

Following on from the branding and marketing workshop, we tasked our students to create business mood boards. Yes, they got to cut and stick interesting images on a board – and yes, it does slightly feel like being back at primary school.

Being at the start of their floral journey, we know that their heads are constantly whirling with thoughts about the style of flowers they want to produce, their type of customer, their floral dreams. By putting these cut out images onto a board, it gives the students something tangible to represent all of those thoughts. Therefore, this cutting and pasting is such a worthwhile task, as it enables the students to visualise their style and their brand.

DAY 7 - BRIDAL BOUQUETS & MARKETING AND BUSINESS TICK LIST

Today our students made the MOST beautiful naturally styled bridal bouquets. It was as if their mood boards from the previous day had come to life. Each bouquet really did represent each student's individual style. A big thank you to student @kirstygisbo for putting on the wedding dress. She did a great job at being the bride.

DAY 8 - WEDDING THEORY, WIRING…BUTTONHOLES & FLOWER CROWNS

We kicked off the day by chatting about everything that is required in order to successfully complete a wedding from beginning to end. From the initial enquiry, the consultation, the design and pricing, the ordering of flowers, the making of all the arrangements and pieces, the logistics and delivering, timings, set up and take down. Phew!!

In the afternoon we  moved onto wiring, which is always a bit of a Marmite moment (you either love it. Or hate it) Wiring is fiddly and time consuming but extremely satisfying when it all comes together at the end.  We taught the students how to make flower crowns, which they made for themselves to wear. We always jokingly say to the students that their flower crowns are a reflection of their inner personality. You can make your own mind up.

FINAL DAY - INSTALLATION

On their last day of this fast paced jam packed course, the students put all their newly learned skills and techniques into practice and created this beauty of an installation. Absolutely amazing!! And so perfectly timed with it being May Day. We took over the bandstand in one of Bath's lovely parks (which also serves as a wedding venue) and decorated it with spring offerings including some gorgeous white cherry blossom. This exercise was a great way for the students to learn hands on about how to organise and carry out a real event in real time. We had many admiring glances and lovely comments and conversations with passing residents and tourists which of course gave the 6 students a great boost of confidence and feeling of achievement.

Celebration…. At the end of the day, the last day, we had a celebration back at the flower school. We drank bubbles and ate some cake, celebrated all the achievements of the past two weeks and had our final time together. This is always a bitter sweet occasion as over the previous two weeks the students and us teachers have got to know each other very well and have got used to seeing each other everyday. We feel proud of their achievements but are sad to see them go. However this is not the end of their learning or their relationship with us and other students. We set up a flower ‘Florum’ where all previous attendees of The Bath Flower School can chat, swap ideas, ask for help, advertise work and support each other. Also as part of the Professional Floristry course, the students are invited back (at a time that is relevant to their needs) to see us at the school for a half day one to one business mentoring session

And there you have it…A day by day account of our PROFESSIONAL FLORISTY course. If you would like to join us on one of these courses or if you have any questions. Please CONTACT US...we will be more than happy to talk to you.

CALLING IN THE EXPERTS!

Whilst we have years of floristry knowledge and experience, we want our students to learn from the best, therefore we call in the experts!  On our PROFESSIONAL FLORISTRY course we hand over the reins, allowing the experts to do their thing and educate our students.

WHICH EXPERTS DO WE USE?

PHOTOGRAPHY

With today’s use of social media, being able to capture your work is essential. We want our students to build a portfolio that they are proud of and this is why we enlisted photographer Emma from Heart Full Of Tea. Emma’s approach to teaching is very relaxed and informal. Whilst she explains the ins and outs of photography , her session is very hands on and is pretty much a case of, the learning is by doing.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Our social media expert Lou from Spark Social. Lou is an expert in all things Insta!! She gives our students the low down and practical knowledge ensuring they are armed with Instagram’s most recent updates/features. Lou chats to our students about  ‘showing up’ on Instagram and loads them will ideas.

Image by Nicola Proctor https://www.instagram.com/nicolajphoto_brandimage/

SYMPATHY FLOWERS

Then we have Catherine, an independent funeral director. She comes in to chat to our students about the etiquette of providing sympathy flowers – this session is of great value as it gives our students an understanding of how best to deal with the whole process, during what is such a sensitive time for the deceased family.

BRANDING & MARKETING

So, in addition to the above, we are very excited to be inviting two new experts to the PROFESSIONAL FLORISTY course. We will be joined by the fantastic duo – Kate at Koop Design and Jo @jo.mcdiarmid for a branding and marketing workshop. Bringing their wealth of expertise and experience, these two are going to educate our students how best to shape their brand and to communicate to their customers. We know this workshop is going to bring sooo much value to the course and are looking forward to welcoming them to the team!!

MEDITATION

Not floristry related, but as a treat we always invite Madeline from The Soul Spa to come in and run a meditation session with our students. We understand that our students are at the beginning of floristry journey and are often overloaded with a billion thoughts/ideas. Therefore, the intention of this session is for our students to clear their minds, helping the creative process and to visualise their journey ahead. We absolutely love these sessions, meditation days are the best as there’s a calmness in the school for the rest of the day. We wish every day, was a meditation day!

AND WE'RE BACK!!!

Hooray! The Bath Flower School is starting up again. September the 8th will be our first day back of teaching. We can't wait to get back to some sort of (new!) normal and to what we do best - Teaching!

What a crazy strange time this has been for all of us. No school for children, no work for lots of us, no contact with other people, isolation, change, uncertainty and confusion, just some of the ways this terrible pandemic has impacted on our lives.

And now that shops, businesses, restaurants, public transport have started to run and open, there is yet more adjustment and re-evaluating. It is unsettling to say the least.

The frustration we felt back in March when we had to stop work and go into lock down after only just starting the business in the previous November was immense. We had just started to get into our flow and were gaining momentum as a business. The week after completing our first Weddings! course (which was a great success) we shut up shop and retreated home as did the rest of the country. All our plans on hold, classes cancelled, refunds given, time to stay safe at home.

We know that for lots of people this has been a time to reflect, re-evaluate and for some, change direction. For some of us our priorities have changed, things we thought were important we now realise are not. For us at the flower school it has been a chance to really think about our school and our classes, what we offer and how we deliver them.

So…After this period of reflection, our ethos very much remains the same. In short, we really do care about our students! We want to give them the best possible learning experience we can.

These are the principles that help us achieve that:

• By providing courses which are up to date, have in depth content, and are inline with (if not better than) the current floristry courses within the industry.

• By being generous and  informative with our knowledge and experience, sharing with our students as much as we possibly can

• By overwhelming  our students with the quality, quantity and variety of the flowers that we use and by always using British and local flowers when we can.

• By providing our students with a relaxed learning environment through our kind and caring approach.

• By ensuring that each students leaves  knowing  that they belong to our wider flower community.

• By  nurturing and supporting our students we give them the opportunity to discover and realise their creativity.

• By advocating individuality and teaching students how to make informed creative decisions  in order to develop their own floristry style. 

We want all of our students to leave the flower school feeling accomplished, confident and happy!  

School and COVID…

When returning in September - our students safety is paramount. We want our students to be able to come and learn with us knowing that we have taken all the correct and necessary measures in order to minimise any potential risk.

We will be following all the government guidelines regarding health and safety, plus some extra ones of our own, to make sure we keep everyone safe, whilst still making it a happy, comfortable, relaxed place to learn and be with other people.

All our courses commencing in September and beyond will adhere to the current social distancing rules. Heightened cleaning and hygiene measures are in place and our facilities will be adapted in order to meet government guidelines.

We are very lucky that Museum of Bath at Work (where our school resides) is a huge airy building with a high ceiling, wide staircases and plenty of room for our students to stay safe distances away from each other. We have exclusive use of the top floor of the building and we are in control of who comes in and out of our space.

Of course between now and September guidance may change, be updated or become more relaxed but we will continue to monitor and ensure that guidelines are in place for our reopening.

Returning back to school…

With a jam packed calendar for the remaining of 2020, we are super excited to be welcoming all of our new (and returning students) back to the flower school. September is an great month as there is still an abundance of British flowers… dahlias, hellebore, stocks, zinnias to name a few. We will be getting our flower orders in with our AMAZING local growers and can guarantee that the school will be filled with the best flowers we can get our hands on - WE REALLY CAN’T WAIT!!!

THE BEGINNING

Hello all and welcome to our first blog post.. I’m Verity, one half of The Bath Flower School and thought it was high time we started sharing a blog post for all of our lovely followers.

As I sit down and start writing I’m feeling totally overwhelmed by the current COVID-19 situation and am struggling to find the right balance between carrying on with business as normal, and feeling totally deflated by this uncertain time, which undoubtedly has (and will) continue to affect everyone for the foreseeable future. It had always been our intention to blog, so given the fact we will now have more time our hands, (or not so, now that I’m homeschooling my 9 and 7 year olds) seemed like the best time to start. Not only will it provide a distraction from this temporary reality, but it will also mean I finally get to put a tick beside one of the things that has long been on our to do list!

Anyway, on with my blog !

The Beginning…

So, last year Saffy and I were told that the Flower School we were working for was relocating and effectively we were jobless. As you can imagine our worlds were turned upside down for many reasons. Whilst we both could have gone off and freelanced/carried on with private work it would have meant that the teaching element would have been missing. Teaching is something we’re both truly passionate about. We had to keep teaching!!  The realisation of this happened over a cuppa in a café when Saffy and I decided to go it alone, together! We were going to set up our own flower school and do it in a way which was reflective of us as florists, our values and our style of teaching. We wanted to throw away the so called rule book and give our students the technical tools and inspiration so that they could develop their confidence and floristry skills to become their own style of florist. With the shift towards sustainability, we decided our school would be completely foam free and we would teach our students alternative methods. With these clear views in mind ‘The Bath Flower School’ was launched in November 2019.

So, The Bath Flower School, how did we get from that initial conversation about starting to actually launching our business? The irony was, we basically had to put into practice everything we had been  previously teaching students. We were now in their shoes, setting up our new business. Whilst the core of any flower school will always be similar to the next, Saffy and I had to decide what would make us at ‘The Bath Flower School’ different from any others. How would we brand ourselves? Not obvious initially, but it became quite apparent fairly soon that it was us, Verity and Saffy that would make us different to the next flower school. The way we teach, how we relate to people, the care we take in looking after a student's well being and our general outlook and personalities. With our different personalities and creativity it would mean we would bring something extra to the table for our students. 

Why, I hear you say? For anyone that has come and done a course with us, you will know (or I hope so) that not only do we pride ourselves on quality/availability of flowers, course content and our teaching style, we genuinely what our students to feel welcome from the minute they walk through the door. We’re both home bodies at heart, so it’s in our nature to make everyone feel at home and relaxed. This was the main reason why we wanted to incorporate ‘family style’ lunches into all of our courses, it would give us a chance to sit down all together and reflect on our day, as well as having some fun banter. The Bath Flower School is about making everyone feel inclusive!

So, with our brand sorted, we then had to find a premises so that we could actually run the school. With no financial backing, a long-term rental was not an option for us so we decided to go down the ‘pop up’ route and to our surprise we came across the Museum of Bath at Work. Having lived in Bath for over 13 years and living just a stones throw away,it was amazing that neither of us had been to the museum before. Not knowing anything about it, Saffy and I were intrigued with what lay behind its big red doors. Much to our surprise (and excitement) we were shown the mezzanine level and knew instantly that this was where we would start our journey. Whilst it’s not our forever home, we absolutely love the museum…. Its tall ceilings and big windows make it a great light space for us to teach and the eclectic museum articles make for some awesome backdrops!

Venue sorted we then moved onto how best get it out there…. obviously social media was easy enough in that we had insta and facebook in place, it was the website that would be more time consuming/challenging. Being totally headstrong and thinking I can turn my hand at anything I set out on building us a website. It was definitely a labour of love and above anything else a big learning curve. With thanks to squarespace, google, a little help from my partner Paul (who thankfully works in IT), we had ourselves a website! 

With everything in order, we then had to wait for the bookings to come in. Now that was undoubtable the scariest part of the process. What happened if no one liked what we’re offering, and we don’t get any bookings. Fortunately, with Christmas just around the corner we had our wreath workshops to kick off with and by the end of the festive period we sold around 150 places. We were beyond happy with that start and it definitely got us out there in terms of exposure. From there on in we started getting bookings and now we have completed the first of all our classes. Yes, it has been a rollercoaster for us, particularly now but we we’re loving every minute of it so far. Whilst we’re here to teach floristry, the importance of social interaction has never felt so as it does right now. Like everyone, we cannot wait to see the back of this crazy uncertain time. We want to assure you we are going nowhere, and we will be here ready and waiting to welcome you back in school.

Stay safe, keep well and be kind to those around you!!

Verity x