SEASONS IN BLOOM

TAMMY HALL NURTURES BLOOMS BY HAND IN HER CUT FLOWER GARDEN.SHE SPEAKS TO HEATHER LARGE ABOUT HER DESIGNS FOR ALL SEASONS

Asthe seasons change so does the wonderful variety of flowers that flourishinour gardensand meadows. From tulips and daffodils in the spring to sweet peas and cosmos in the summer, floral designer Tammy Hall is guided by the rhythms of nature.

She nurtures blooms on atraditional family farm on the Shropshire-Herefordshire border

And drawing inspiration from the time of year,she crafts bouquets and table arrangements full of scented flowers and foliage foraged from woodlands on the farm.

It was after moving to Shropshire around 15 years ago that she first discovered apassion for floristry and set up Wild Bunch Flowers in 2013.

“I had no background in growing but Ihad always spent a lot of time outside bushwalking and camping,” explains Tammy, who grew up in Australia.

After graduating university in Melbourne, she moved to London to work as an architect but in her spare time would hop on atrain to the countryside.

“I found myself craving the landscape. It was always something that had been important to me,” explains Tammy

During atriptothe Long Mynd, she met her partner James while paragliding. After moving to hisfarm near Leintwardine, she worked as an architect in Birmingham but continued to feel drawn to the outdoors life.

“I had this hankering to do somethingmore connected to where Ilived, Ifelt really lucky to be living in this amazing landscape,” she recalls.

After having the idea of growing and selling flowers, Tammy spent her daily train commutefrom Shrewsbury to Birmingham learning everything she could about the subject.

She found inspiration from floral designers she discovered on Facebook such as The Blue Carrot as well as Flowers From The Farm, an association championing artisan growers of seasonal British cut flowers.

Tammy,who tested the water by entering acompetition run by Garden Museum in London, started her business as awedding florist, offering home-grown blooms.

Forthe firstfew years, it remained a part-time venture as she continued with her day job while spending every minute she could outside in the fresh air tending to her English garden flowers.

Becoming amemberof Flowers From The Farm, enabled her to grow the business to thepoint where she was able to leave her day job.

Now she offers her unique style of floral design for weddings and events and sellsbouquets of cut flowers which can be delivered within a15-mile radius or collected directly from the farm.

Tammy also runs asubscription service and sells wholesale flowers to florists.

“Flowers bring alot of joy to people and Ilove making beautiful things out of flowers which people treasure. They are all homegrown which adds another layer of beauty and nostalgia,”she explains.

“The growing year and floristry year is such abusy one, growing and working with flowers is such aprivilege and something Ilove, but the only way Ican plan for the year ahead is to follow the seasons,” she explains.

“During Januaryand February Ispend alarge part of the winter days dreaming of all the colour and beauty Ican grow in our field to work with, to share with people and to give as anectar-filled haven to the wildlife.

“Coming to life with the promise of longer lighter days is real. Igrowmore flowers each year,and always try to grow new varieties.

“I plan the year ahead with lots of separate schedules of work plans –a seed plan, bulb plan, grasses plan and perennials and also roses and peonies. Imake lists for each of these growing categories and pore over seed and plant catalogues.

“I make endless lists –indoor/outdoor job lists, Imake endless schedules of work for each booked job Ihave in the year to come, Imake schedules of work for the garden, and for my design work. Iconfirm all my bookingsfor the year ahead.

“I have to be clear about planning for the garden to grow cut flowers for florists and also planning for cutting for my brides and upcoming classes.

“And Ialways try to come up with new ways of making my garden flowers available to more people.

“I always grow as many new dahlias and English cottagegarden staples, often annuals like larkspur –not always the easiest flower to germinate I find –and cosmos –one of theeasiest annuals to grow –garden favourites like sweet peas, Californian poppies, rudbeckia, annual phlox and zinnias.

“And it is always lovely to have tendrils growing like clematis and edible flowers like beautiful coloured nasturtiums.

“Some of my favourite flowers to grow are achellia –coming from Australia Ilove the hardiness of this sun-loving flower and another sun-loving edible flower,calendula and also annual phlox, one of the most useful annuals that Iuse as soft fillersinmy floristry work,” she explains.

Keen to shareher knowledge, Tammy also teaches anumber of classes throughout theyearand hasrecently teamed up with Walcot Hall in Lydbury

Spring

North to offer aseries of workshops following the seasons.

The next classes will the Scented Garden Workshop on July 5and the Autumnal Swags Workshop on September 20. There will also be an opportunity to make Christmas wreaths on December 6.

At the heart of the workshops is the idea of provenance. “Each of theclasses is about celebrating the season and how unique it is. Each season has adifferent palette of colour,texture and form. We’re guided by what’s around us and what we can bring intoour homes. It’s alsoabout breaking down any preconceptions people might have about this and show that you can use what you already have in your garden and around your home,” explains Tammy

Emma Hockly,of Walcot Hall, said: “Weare keen to work with Tammy as she is an amazing florist who works sustainably,mostly from her own garden.

“Asa venue, we are working on increasing our events to allow everyone to enjoy the beauty Walcot Hall has to offer

“Tammy’s workshops offer achance to discover the artof flower arranging in auniqueway.She offers something different in the gorgeous relaxed setting of Walcot. Refreshments are also provided.”

ForTammy,teaching others to create eye-catching floral arrangements for their homes is just one of many rewarding aspects of being a flower farmer

“Sharing knowledge and the beauty of flowers is alovely thing to do. Ienjoy having that connection with the land and working with the land. Equally,Ilike the design side of it and making beautiful

Winter

pieces that are seasonaland sustainable for weddings, parties and as gifts. It’s alovely thing to do,” explains Tammy n To book aplace on the workshop, visit walcothallevents.com, and for more information about Wild Bunch Flowers, see wildbunchflowers.co.uk