The unexampled year is going to be a busy one for Jo Thompson . She divvy up some of the changes afoot at her peak farm in Gloucestershire .
2023 will be the fourth maturate time of year at Wye Valley Flowers , and they have lots of exciting plans in property . At the consequence , they uprise flowers on just under an acre , put within a 13 - acre eco - farm and glamping site located between the Wye Valley and Forest of Dean . They reap rainwater , use an air source pump , void chemicals and pesticides , as well as using the waste from their guest compost closet as mulch on their flowerbeds . They are open from Mother ’s Clarence Day to mid - December and run shop in their Flower Studio throughout the year .
Expansion may seem a little brainsick , considering they have n’t experienced a ‘ normal ’ twelvemonth yet : they have been in either a pandemic , a lockdown , a drought , micro - wedding fever , or an outcome apprehension - up twelvemonth – and now they discover ourselves in a fiscal crisis . However , the interest in seasonal , sustainable British blossom continues to rise despite the fiscal pinch , and weddings , birthdays , and anniversary will keep on make out around .
They have three be after changes at WVF this year . The first and likely most exciting for us is the conversion of their old dairy into a shop – ‘ The Potting Shed . ’ They are on schedule to start the week before Mother ’s Day , just in time for their officious day of the year . The aim is but to make it easier for their client to corrupt their flowers . Although they already lam a small-scale farm gate stand and an honesty box for bouquets , they will now be able to offer the kind of ‘ make while you wait for ’ service you might expect at a gamy street flower store .
A shop will allow us to publicise unconstipated opening hour , have an outlet next to the bloom farm where likely customer can see more of what they offer , and they ’ll also be stocking local artisan produce . Inspired by the grassroots campaign Just a Card , which advance support for artist , maker , sovereign shop , and small businesses , we be after to sell a range of lifestyle product for every pouch , including gift card and items useful to their glamping guests . This project is sure enough a hazard in the current economical climate , but their minimal overheads will mean we can hit the ground black market .
The second growing they have design is a PYO landing field for the summertime , fill with favorites like cosmos , dahlias , sunflowers , and zinnias . Visitors will pay off just for what they pick , and the great family photo opportunity is free ! There is a fortune of bureaucracy involved in setting up a PYO , but their field is already allocated for touristry utilisation , and they open for LEAF Open Farm Days , so they are used to get the public on - website , and they love share their place .
It ’s going to be a busy year , but they are search forward to match lots of unexampled visitors to the farm and distribute the countersign about British - turn flowers , Flowers From The Farm , and their lovely local group of growers , the # LedburytoLydneyFlowerCollective .
