Field of dreams about the land

In 2013, Liz Mobbs made a childhood dream come true by opening a small flower farm in Cratfield, selling her homegrown bouquets at the farm gate. Now, as she celebrates its ten-year anniversary, I find her amongst the blooms at its new location, The Southwold Flower Company, where business is flourishing.

Liz and her family relocated to Southwold in 2017, where, together with her husband Roger, she took on a 5-acre plot of sandy coastal soil, gradually transforming it into a richly abundant sea of colour where today, spires of lupins tower over rows of sweet Williams and a profusion of daisies are dotted through with sky blue cornflowers. Initially they sold the freshly picked flowers via a small courtyard shop in Southwold, and opened the flower fields once a week so customers could come and fill jam jars with their own selection, but when Covid struck, they were forced to close. It was a time of reinvention for many small businesses and so, when restrictions lessened, Liz decided to set up a ‘click & collect’ system at the barn on site at the farm. “We were overwhelmed by the response! It was so popular we could hardly keep up with the demand and so when things returned to normal, we decided to convert half of the barn into our new permanent flower shop and the fields are now open 7 days a week for PYO.”

The shop is a wonderful space where, as well as selling her beautiful fresh flowers and a range of carefully curated products, Liz and the team also run a number of workshops and prepare and plan flowers for wedding bookings and private events. “It was always my dream to create a flower farm where people could come and pick their own flowers and this side of the business is one of the most rewarding. It gives me so much joy to see groups of friends, brides and hen parties, or mums and their small ones wander off along the rows of flowers, returning later with a wonderfully personal selection of stems – weeds and all!” Right on queue, a mother and her two daughters arrive, and as we chat, we watch them meandering along the rows, stopping to snip a glorious delphinium, a few stems of bejewelled geum, or a deliciously scented cluster of sweet rocket, whilst Steve the terrier tags along - just in case he is needed.

Liz is a talented florist, and a large part of her business is working with brides to create the perfect look and feel for their big day. She offers a range of wedding packages, all using fresh seasonal flowers from the farm that allow for flexibility and affordability. Brides can choose from a complete bespoke service, the Bouquets, or the Buttonholes & Buckets’ option, where Liz and her team prepare the flowers in advance ready to be delivered on the day, or a lovely relaxed homespun option where brides come to the farm and fill buckets of blooms to then arrange themselves at home. And, new this summer, Liz is offering another service, the Flower Bar, which can be delivered to weddings, parties or pop-up events, and guests are invited to create their own arrangement from the selection of flowers provided to then wrap and take home. www.thesouthwoldflowercompany.co.uk

The flower fields are open for nearly seven months and the choice for picking varies as the seasons progress, starting with the delicate pastels of the spring flowers: white veronica, geums, cerinthe and alliums, followed by cheerful cosmos, aquilegia, lupins, scabiosa and zinnias, and then the show stopping dahlias and sunflowers. Liz also grows exquisitely beautiful peonies and an amazing collection of roses, which she reserves for the bridal flowers or for inclusion in the bouquets she supplies to a variety of local shops such as New Street Market, East of Eden in Southwold, and Snape Maltings.

You can also buy fresh flowers directly from the shop, and stepping inside, you are greeted with buckets brimming with the most beautiful blooms and a mix of Liz’s stunning floral bouquets, and along the beams there are bundles of sea spray, strawflower, sea holly, larkspur and lavender that have been strung up to dry before being used in arrangements.

Liz and Roger have worked hard to create this oasis on the Suffolk coast, and I can’t think of a more delightful way of whiling away an hour than losing myself in this fragrant field of dreams gathering fresh flowers for my very own posy – straw hat and flouncy dress are not compulsory but highly recommended!

Elemental beauty about design

Every piece of Alba Jewellery is handmade by Jacqueline Dawson, a passionate jeweller whose exquisite creations are inspired by the natural world and beachcombing finds along the Suffolk shoreline. Each item is made from recycled metal and radiates a unique charm that perfectly captures her deep respect for the environment.

Jackie is completely self-taught and has spent years honing her style from her garden studio in East Bergholt. Using age-old techniques and simple hand tools, she works primarily with silver, brass and gold, breathing new life into these reclaimed materials, transforming them into stunning rings, earrings, and bracelets that celebrate the beauty of nature, the uniqueness of the handmade, and the authenticity of the raw metal. “I have always been creative and have worked previously as a carnival artist, a florist and batik artist, alongside a long career as a primary school teacher. When I first started experimenting with jewellery, I made a few pieces for my daughters, but then their friends put in requests, and it grew from there.” That was back in 2013, and she now runs Alba Jewellery full-time, having given up teaching in 2019 and selling via her website and at various pop-up events and fairs.

Jackie takes inspiration from the natural world and all of her unique pieces of jewellery tell a story, connecting the wearer to the beauty of leaves, the intricate shapes of seeds and flowers, and treasures foraged

About Design

from the seashore. “I love walking the shoreline of the estuary and always come back with a cache: shells, fronds of seaweed, pebbles and leaves from the plants that grow along the marshes. There is always something to surprise me and I find great solace in knowing my little patch of Suffolk inside out.” As part of the making process, Jackie makes observational sketches of her finds which are then simplified to a more abstract form before being worked up into paper maquettes. “These give me a feel for the shape and scale of the piece, and only when I am satisfied will I start working with the metal. I have also started casting, making the designs in wax and then casting with molten brass or silver to make some wonderful sculptural items.”

By working with recycled silver, gold and brass, Jackie’s jewellery not only pays homage to the environment, but it also demonstrates a commitment to sustainable practices. Her silver is sourced from Hatton Gardens, London’s famous jewellery quarter, and each of the recycled materials carries its own unique characteristic, which Jackie cleverly enhances to create interesting shapes and texture. “Most pieces are textured using hammering as a finish - the tiny hammer marks bringing out the depth of colour in the metal as it catches the lightand I use citric acid on the brass, sometimes pickling for longer to remove the zinc and allow the pink lustre of the copper to shine through. Being self-taught, I am happy to experiment and many of my designs have evolved as ‘happy accidents’.”

Her studio is a joy to behold. Cabinets display collections including mimosa and artichoke studs, sycamore earrings, brass sun and silver moon rings, and a charming hag stone pendant that has a pleasing texture and weightiness to it. There are barnacle and mud rings, sea kale studs, three sun earrings whose brass discs give off a golden glow, and a delightful silver Dunlin necklace. “I love to spend summer days kayaking and laying in the marshes watching the river birds. Dunlin are my favourite and the inspiration for this particular piece. The little bird shapes are hand cut from recycled silver and linked with connecting leaf shapes. All of the pieces are hammered to catch the light, so evocative of the flashes of flight seen as flocks of these little birds dance across the sky.” Jackie also makes several decorative items including exquisite brass studies of the different leaves that have fallen outside her studio and is currently working on designs for a candle sconce adorned with leaves. She also runs the occasional workshop, sharing her knowledge and skill so that you too can cast a ring from these recycled metals.

In a world where mass-produced jewellery often lacks soul, Jackie’s striking collections serve as a beacon of artistry and sustainability, reminding us that beauty can be both ethereal and impactful. Her love of the natural world is deeply rooted within each and every piece, and it is this connection that gives her work such a raw energy and makes her jewellery so instantly wearable.

Alba will be part of the Bolam Summer Pop www.alba-jewellery.co.uk

Up at the Aldeburgh Gallery: 21st July – 2nd Aug and at the Polstead Exhibition: 26th28th Aug.

About Gardens

Wind dancers

Summer is a time to relax and enjoy your garden in all its splendour. But, if your green fingers are still twitching, now is also the perfect time to think ahead to the autumn and how you can prolong the interest and colour of your borders.

Ornamental grasses are a wonderfully easy way to fill any gaps. Their soft silhouettes look spectacular illuminated by the golden glow of the late autumn sunshine and their feathery blooms will dance in the breeze, bringing movement and texture.

Here are our top five:

Fountain Grass - Pennisetum: A clumpforming grass with arching spires topped with fluffy flowers of white, pink, and deep red that are great for autumn colour.

Pony Tails - Stipa tenuissima: A neat compact perennial grass with thin wiry leaves and feathery flowers of golden yellow that fade to pale in late summer.

Japanese Silver Grass - Miscanthus sinensis: A handsome grass with elegant plumes of white, silver or pink-tinged flowers that stand tall above the foliage.

Sparkling Fountain - Panicum capillare: A dainty airy grass with festoons of panicles that come the autumn, are topped with decorative purple seed heads.

Aureola - Hakonechloa macra: A beautiful small grass with vividly striped green and yellow foliage that will brighten shaded areas.

They are all easy to grow and ideal for softening hard landscaping, so get your glow on and sway to the golden grasses of home!