The florist to the King was among several notable attendees at the UK’s most sustainable flower festival at Strawberry Hill House.
Simon Lycett, who also arranged the flowers for David and Victoria Beckham’s wedding, gave a talk and tour to attendees of the festival, which ran between 13-15th September and showcased arrangements inspired by the season.
Lycett is renowned for his floristry, first gaining fame after arranging flowers for 1993 film Four Weddings and a Funeral.
Other talks were held by renowned figures including Gardener’s World presenter Arit Anderson, and Gardeners’ Question Time panellist Ashley Edwards.
Now in it’s sixth year, this annum’s theme of ‘Nature Unbound’ highlighted the festival’s dedication to reflecting the natural world and embracing every stage of a flower’s life.
The supporting talks provided insights into the latest trends in floral design and sustainability, with many of the designers using with no floral foam or single-use plastics.
All materials were biodegradable, reusable, or compostable, aligning with the festival’s eco-friendly mission.
Set against the backdrop of the Gothic palace‘s historic house and gardens, the festival was a celebration of seasonality and floral design.
The festival’s curators, Leigh Chappell and Janne Ford, were instrumental in organising the event, which featured more than 30 exhibitors.
According to Ford, the festival attracted between 14,000 and 19,000 visitors, who came not just for the flowers but to hear from some of the UK’s top florists.
Proceeds from the festival went towards the preservation and upkeep of the historic house, ensuring that both nature and history are preserved for future generations.
Ford said: “The festival is designed to challenge people’s perceptions of floristry.
“You won’t find anything traditional here.
“We like to think of it as floral art.”
Organisers had spent a year preparing for the event, with florists arriving as early as Wednesday evening to begin setting up their intricate displays.
Despite some challenges, including a temporary internet outage due to roadworks outside the venue before the event, the festival ran smoothly over the three days.
Zeta McDonald, who manages visitor services at Strawberry Hill House said: “People really embrace the spirit of the event, often dressing up in floral crowns.”
The theme emphasised the use of seasonal blooms, many of which were grown specifically for the festival over the course of the past year.
Visitors were treated to a visual feast of dahlias, rudbeckias, sunflowers, cosmos, dried grasses, and rosehips, with both fresh and dried floral displays throughout the house and garden.
Rebecca Leuw, Marketing and Communications Manager at Strawberry Hill House, noted that ticket sales had been more challenging this year compared to previous editions, prompting a bigger push on marketing.
Horace Walpole, famous 18th century gothic writer and art historian built Strawberry Hill House from 1749 onwards.
Leuw said: “We believe Walpole himself would have loved it.
“He was so creative, and this festival reflects the same spirit of imagination and craftsmanship that he cherished.”
A standout feature of this year’s festival was the incorporation of modern Ikebana designs.
Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arranging, focuses on the natural beauty of each stem and leaf, considering their shape, line, and form.
The festival’s curators, exhibitors, and thousands of visitors left inspired by the beauty of nature and the power of sustainable floral design, making it another resounding success.
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