It’s official: British flowers are at the heart of government! A magnificent urn brimming with beautiful, fragrant British flowers and foliages is currently adorning the entrance hall of the Prime Minister’s official residence at 10 Downing Street in celebration of British Flowers Week 2016.

The PM and his entourage can look forward to a scented British Flowers Week of British-grown oriental lilies, alstroemeria, stocks, peonies, delphiniums, astrantia, Margaret Merrill roses, beech and white leaf as they go about their work.

A selected team of floristry students from Capel Manor College created the arrangement in Capel’s floristry classroom inside New Covent Garden Flower Market before later delivering it to 10 Downing Street in person. Expertly led by Capel Manor’s Head of Floristry, Natalie Revett, the students included Tilly Boswell, Julie Bremner, Carly Sparks and Niamh Keane.

Wholesalers from New Covent Garden Flower Market generously sponsored the British Flowers Week initiative to get locally-grown cut flowers behind that famous door. The British flowers came from the fantastic Mick on Pratley and Graeme on Zest Flowers, the British foliage from the fabulous David at GB Foliage whilst the urn and pedestal came from the wonderful Grant at C Best. Steve from Zest Flowers even delivered both the urn and the students in Zest’s van from the Flower Market to the door of Number 10 itself.

Whilst the idea originated within British Flowers Week HQ at New Covent Garden Flower Market, it was Brian Wills-Pope, the Chairman of the British Florist Association who was able to make it a reality. His hard work behind the scenes has delivered a once in a lifetime experience for a lucky group of floristry students – as well as a memorable image for the British Flowers Week campaign – for a second consecutive year.

“It’s very important to give the British flower Industry this support and to celebrate British Flowers Week,” said Brian. “Education is such an important part of what the British Florist Association does. The students have done a great job, and we’re pleased to have been able to give them the opportunity of creating an arrangement for the Prime Minister.”

With thanks to Tracey Griffin, Marketing Manager, BFA for her photography and the inside track!