Britain imports around 85% of its cut flowers, yet we live in a temperate climate perfectly suited to growing them. Something is wrong with that picture – and flower farmer, florist and author Georgie Newbery has spent years putting it right, one small plot at a time.
To celebrate the publication of her new book, The Flower Farmer’s Year, Georgie joins us at The Sherborne to explore how even a modest garden can become a thriving small cut-flower business.
Georgie will share how she transformed a patch of land too small to be classed as a smallholding into a flourishing flower farm, offering practical ideas and inspiration to help you look at your own growing space with fresh eyes.
Whether you are a gardener wondering if your plot could earn its keep, a grower looking to diversify, or simply someone who loves flowers and wants to understand more about where they come from, this talk will change the way you think about what a garden can be.
Growing cut flowers for sale can support biodiversity, champion British growers and – when approached thoughtfully – provide a welcome source of income. Gardens can be expensive. Georgie will show you how yours might begin to pay its way.
About Georgie Newbery
Georgie Newbery is a flower farmer, florist, author and business mentor, and one of the UK’s leading voices on small-scale cut-flower growing. She is External Chair of the flower-farming trade body Flowers from the Farm, a member of the RHS Trials Forum, a Chelsea Flower Show gold medal winner and a Royal Horticultural Society floristry judge.
The bar will open at 5pm, giving you time to enjoy a drink before the talk begins at 6pm. It will remain open until 8pm, so you can continue the conversation afterwards.
Why not make an evening of it? Join us for dinner in The Restaurant following the event, where our chefs will be serving a beautifully considered seasonal menu inspired by the fields, gardens, hedgerows and coast around us.
Restaurant tables are limited, so advance booking is warmly recommended.
Wednesday 30 September
5pm: Doors and bar open
6pm: Talk begins
8pm: Bar closes
Tickets: £12
Please read our Booking Terms before completing your purchase. Tickets are refundable up to 48 hours before the event start time. We are unable to offer refunds within 48 hours of the event or for non-attendance.
What to expect
Join us at The Sherborne for talks, performances, workshops and special events in the remarkable setting of Sherborne House. Please arrive in good time, especially for popular events, as seating is usually unallocated and offered on a first come, first served basis.
Where possible, our team will be on hand to welcome you, direct you to the event space and answer any questions.
Need to know
Refunds: Tickets are refundable up to 48 hours before the event. We are unable to refund cancellations made within 48 hours of the event start time.
Seating: Seating is not allocated unless clearly stated. Please arrive early if you would like a particular seat.
Access: The Sherborne has disabled access. Please let us know about any access requirements when booking, or contact us before your visit.
Arrival: Late admission may not always be possible, depending on the event.
Dietary requirements: For events involving food or drink, please tell us about any dietary requirements when booking.