Florist reduces waste by giving blooms a new life

A charity founder in north London says she tries to bring joy to others by making flowers affordable.

Ursula Stone founded a social enterprise in 2019 that turns blooms at the end of their shelf-life into beautiful arrangements which are donated to local places such as care homes or sold.

The Flower Bank in New Barnet, north London, aims to reduce waste in the flower sector by repurposing stems that would have otherwise been thrown away.

These are then used to teach flower arranging skills to young offenders, people with mental health issues and older people.

Ms Stone sources the flowers from supermarkets, film studios, weddings, fashion shoots, corporate events and cemeteries.

They are then taken to the shop to be repurposed.

Some are sold to people who walk into the shop and others are used for classes.

"My rule to life is spontaneity," Ms Stone said. "When I am on my way to pick up the flowers, that's when I am thinking of ideas of what to do with them.

"I love the classes as it brings people together and creates a community that learns new skills.

"Not many others are doing this - it's completely unique, it's something to look forward to.

"My reason for doing this is making the flowers affordable and bringing joy to people who wouldn't normally get them".

Flower arranging classes are held every Tuesday morning at the Hope Corner Community Centre.

One of those in attendance is Andi Paraskeva from East Barnet.

Ms Paraskeva has been coming to the classes for more than two years and said they have "given her more confidence" by learning new skills.

"I look forward to a Tuesday morning, it gets you out the house and you get to meet new people" she said.

Ms Stone also runs classes on Fridays for people with dementia.

They are accompanied by their family members and make their flower arrangements together.

Ms Stone said those classes were important to her because "it gives them something to do together that isn't hospital related".

She added that she also recycles plastic items used to hold flowers in funeral arrangements.

These are given to her by cemetery groundsmen when the floral display is eventually thrown away.

"Most people aren't aware of how much single-use plastic is used during funeral flower arrangements," Ms Stone said.

The plastic she recovers is then sent to Capel Manor College in Enfield, where she learnt floristry. The college uses the materials for its current students.

Ms Stone has raised almost £70,000 in a crowdfunder to open her shop and is reliant on grants to keep it running.

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