The Great British Flower School
launches Eco Farewell Flowers For All
-a five-lesson interactive online course
Are you ready to learn eco-friendly, sustainable floristry, without the premium price-tag?
Are you looking for no-nonsense, straight-talking, jargon-free teaching methods based on real-life scenarios?
Are you ready to embrace the change to eco-floristry and future-proof your funeral floristry skills?
Are you ready to embrace sustainability?
Welcome, to the Great British Flower School!
We’re here to guide and help you every step of the way….
Our aim is for you to learn how to turn your blooms into beautiful funeral arrangements using your own flair and creativity, but with NO FLORAL FOAM.
Roz and Ali are proud to run their flower farming and floristry businesses on sustainable principles.
Over the years they have encountered outmoded and outdated design methodology and had to invent their own ways of creating eco-friendly, (single-use) plastic-free funeral arrangements.
They know how hard it can be to source the right materials, stay within budget and stick to sustainable principles, but they have done it and are now here to show you how to do it too.
THE SITUATION:
The current funeral flower industry comes with a very high environmental cost. Many families would like to be able to say goodbye to their loved ones without harming the environment. There is a huge amount of waste from traditional floristry methods including single-use plastic, poly ribbons, plastic stands and floral foam. This waste is left behind at crematoriums, graveyards and burial sites across the UK before making its way to landfill. There has been a rise in demand for green burial sites and sustainable funeral flowers and the floristry industry needs to rise to meet the sustainability requirements that this necessitates.
THE SOLUTION – OUR ‘ECO FAREWELL FLOWERS’ COURSE.
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The Great British Flower School is here to offer an alternative. No-nonsense, straight-talking practical teaching, that de-mystifies the theory and cuts through jargon.
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We focus on the down-to-earth practical stuff: How do you do it? What are the timings? Show me the exact step-by-step process. Where can you source alternative materials? What do you really need and what should you not waste your money on?
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We’ll provide you with easy to follow, accessible instructions, clear, friendly and informative video demos and PDF downloads to reinforce learning and provide you with step-by-step references.
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We’re here to help you find and develop your own unique style. We like to encourage a creative mind-set with funeral work and to set you free from outmoded design constraints.
Our school is based on the core values of;
- No judgement. No criticism.
- Openness and honesty, always.
- Practical, hands-on advice and jargon-free teaching.
- Keeping our fees realistic, so that you can recoup the rewards of your training investment in a short space of time.
Why Eco Floristry?
Roz and Ali are passionate believers that we should do our best to limit the damage we do to our environment. The latest science confirms that ALL floral foam (yes, including the ‘bio’ version which is the same product with a simple additive) is VERY BAD for the environment.
Why is floral foam so bad?
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Floral foam (under whichever brand name) is a single-use plastic, made from non-renewable petrochemicals, and each single foam block is equivalent in weight to 10 plastic bags.
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After soaking floral foam, the tiny green plastic particles wash down our drains and end up in our watercourses, where they are ingested by marine life. You can read more about the scientific research here https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191210111651.htm
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It is pretty nasty stuff that has slipped past regulators for a long time!
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The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has banned its use at all shows, and it looks likely that it will join the UK Government’s list of banned single-use plastic products in the near future.
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A social media trend of crushing floral foam, often directly into the sink, is also adding to pollution issues. One video promoting the fad amassing 70 million views!
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The ultimate destination for floral foam, however many times you reuse it, is landfill. It is estimated that every year, over 14,670 cubic metres of floral foam are sent to landfill just from crematoriums across the UK! That’s the equivalent of 6 Olympic swimming pools.
WHO ARE WE?
Roz and Ali are straight-talking, down-to-earth people. When they met, their friendship was instant - with so many connections, past experiences and a very similar outlook on life. Ali is very much a creative ‘ideas’ person (mostly with her head in the clouds, if not in the flowers!), whilst Roz is the experienced grower and business woman who gets stuff done.
“The balance between grower flower-farmer, and florist is fundamental to success in this industry and as a partnership, we reckon we are a pretty dynamic duo! We laugh a lot, talk a lot, cut to the chase, work exceptionally hard to achieve our goals and like a no-nonsense approach. (It helps that we are both outdoor-obsessed people, with not only a shared passion for flowers, but a love of animals, our family and friends, and a love of Greece.)” Roz
So how does that benefit me?
Ali has been through the traditional teaching system, after re-training mid-career, from garden design into floral design. She quickly became frustrated by traditional floristry courses, methods AND teaching styles. At the same time, Roz was looking for a creative florist with a friendly teaching style, with industry experience, who could explain and demonstrate clearly.
The result? The Great British Flower School.
• This is for you, if you like your learning delivered in a friendly down-to earth style, and….
• You're thinking about offering a funeral flower service
• Looking for new eco funeral techniques
• You are a flower farmer, keen to learn professional funeral skills.
• Or… you are a traditional, foam-trained florist who is nervous about making the change to eco-techniques
• Or… you studied at mainstream college but, like Ali, have been frustrated by old fashioned teaching designs
• Or… you just want to refresh, update and re-vitalise your existing funeral skills.
Still not sure?
Let’s ask if any of these relate to you:
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Are you nervous about ditching the foam for good?
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Have you tried some eco-methods before, but had a bad experience?
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Are you worried about being judged or criticised? Do you prefer to learn as an individual, and to be able to ask questions without fear of embarrassment, or judgement?
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Are you just starting out in funeral floristry and keen to start off on the right foot?
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Do you want your floristry business to be more environmentally friendly but are just not sure where to start?
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Have you looked for a course or training program and not found quite the right ‘fit’?
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Do you prefer to learn at your own pace, in your own time, but with professional support and advice when you need it? Maybe you like to take your time…or speed through content.
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Are you looking for a friendly, no nonsense, no jargon, ‘accessible to all’, down to earth teaching style?
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Do you just want to try at a low-commitment level, and decide whether this is for you?
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Are you unsure about joining a group learning course, and meeting others, or worried about ‘competing’ with others on the same course?
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Have you been put off by high fees for residential or ‘fast track’ courses?
At the Great British Flower School (GBFS) we believe that eco methods, environmentally friendly techniques and creative tips tricks and advice, should be available and accessible to all.
We are here to share our knowledge and experience, (and even our mishaps and blunders!).
Let's be honest, the options available to you thus far, have been pretty limited.
(We get it, we've been there!)
We're delighted that you have found us, and we can fix your problem.
Let's work on it together...
What's involved and what's the investment?
The complete Eco Farewell Flowers Course is yours for just £300.
You can choose to pay over 2 months, at £150 per month, or OPT for the reduced price of £279 to pay in one installment (a saving of £21!)
We've kept the investment of our online courses minimal, and believe it is true value for money. For the investment of the equivalent of just one funeral order, we will share all of our knowledge with you.
So, what do you get for your investment?
✅ 5 video lessons showing you how to make the bespoke designs step by step
✅ 5 x downloadable PDF course notes with further tips and step by step visuals
✅ Access to the private Course FB group for the duration of the course - just you and your peers on the same course to share/upload your work and get regular tutor FEEDBACK from Ali
✅ PLUS 2 x HOUR long LIVE Q&A sessions directly with Roz and Ali, where you have open floor to ask us anything you like (private 1:1 sessions with Roz are £250!)
So, what do we cover?
We will take you through 5 lessons in a clear, no jargon, easy to follow way, including:
Lesson 1 : Building Foundations
To get you started, we’ll take you through all the materials you need, including details on how to prep them and their pros and cons; how to choose which method to use based on season, flowers and usage. Cutting & Conditioning flowers. Choosing seasonal flowers. Working with British flowers and building flower farm relationships. This is so essential for success – we have learned the hard way, believe us! If you don’t get the foundations right, your flower life will be compromised.
Lesson 2: Love Heart design in Willow
Sympathy flowers are a staple income for most florists, and a very useful floristry design capability to have in your armoury. Learn how to create a completely natural biodegradable shape. This technique can be applied to many funeral arrangements of all shapes and sizes. A valuable lesson to learn for all funeral work, including biodegradable woodland burial sites, cremations, and traditional burials.
Lesson 3 : Modular foam free casket topper
This design is the backbone of all funeral work. We have developed a modular technique so that individual family members can take separate pieces home with them if they desire. The overall design creates a full casket topper but works well for individual units too. This idea has become more popular as it reduces waste even further and provides longevity to the design. Learning these fundamental skills will help you gain confidence, find your style, and develop your business.
Lesson 4 : The raffia-tied sheaf
A simple design that looks so elegant and refined. This is the most eco-friendly arrangement and can be made in any size to fit the requirements of the family. Our demo will show you an impressive large scale design which can be used in place of a casket topper. It's the preferred method for woodland burial sites as there are zero mechanics.
Lesson 5: Unique personal trug arrangement
Personal items are being requested more and more for funeral flowers as they provide a great tribute to the families. Here we show how a personal item such as a gardener's trug can be used with simple mechanics using water and chicken wire only.
How will the course be delivered?
You will receive access to 5 in-depth step-by-step video demonstrations by Ali from our studio here at Field Gate Flowers.
That’s 5 amazing in-depth lessons. Ali has an open, friendly, chatty teaching style and doesn’t like using jargon. She will take you through what she is doing, in a naturally and relaxed way, as if you were there in the studio with her (mistakes and all!)
You can watch the videos whenever you like, and will have UNLIMITED access to the videos, so you can take it all in, at your own pace, when it is convenient.
Each video demonstration will have in depth accompanying course notes in PDF form – for you to access whenever and however you want. These will have extra tips and tricks and alternatives for you to try on your own.
PLUS Extra bonus materials:
1. Cutting and conditioning guide – to ensure longevity of your flower material, crucial for success!
2. Shaping up guide – a guide to take the pain out of some basic design theory.
What else?
As well as being able to access the content whenever you like, in your own time, you’ll get…
1. Access to a Private Facebook Community
A Facebook group for you to ask questions 24/7 and feel part of a business community that has your back. No question is a silly question, we are all here to learn and expand our knowledge through shared experience. It’s also great to know that others are going on the journey at the SAME TIME as you – as the group will only be for your class cohort.
2. Live Q&A sessions with Roz and Ali
We won’t just leave you to it. After you’ve gone through a few sessions, we know that people will often have questions. We’re here to support you on your foam-free journey, so will open up the floor to questions in our regular live Zoom meetings, and will regularly pop into the group to help answer some of your questions.
ALI CONWAY
A little more about Ali...
"I get it! I've been there, and I wish something like this was available to me, when I was thinking about my career change into floristry".
Ali's path into floristry and specialising in eco wedding florals has been a bumpy ride, by her own admission! "I really didn't think I'd end up as a florist, it wasn't on the cards, but I'm so happy I've finally found the career that I love, and I hope to inspire others to do the same".
Ali graduated with a Masters degree in Psychology from Glasgow University - what started as a fascination for people, their behaviour, and what makes them 'tick' moved towards marketing and advertising and led her to a year-long Internship programme with a marketing agency in SoHo New York aged 21. Agency life continued in London in the '90s. It was fast paced and hectic, and whilst it was exciting times at McCann Erickson London, Ali craved green spaces, gardens and wildlife spaces, and was looking for an 'escape route'.
The turning point from this corporate world was when she became a mum, and she took her chance to re-train and try something new. Embarking on Garden Design training, whilst raising her new daughter and juggling mum duties, was no mean feat, and life as a garden designer could only really take part-time commitment. Ali continued on this basis (with a few segues into further teaching and lecturing opportunitues) with a postal garden design service that sent her designs all over the world, and freelancing for larger garden design companies.
"I realised at one point, that I'd created so many beautiful gardens for other people, and drawn up so many plans, but my own life was stuck indoors, on the drawing board, or in front of the computer screen, and I felt that maybe I'd got it wrong...again!"
Ali has now found herself in EXACTLY the right place! Working with beautiful materials, pulling beautifully natural floral designs together, and bringing the outside in for her clients.
Ali launched Rambling Stems in 2020 and the business has gone from strength to strength, winning over her clients who like her friendly approach, her creative ideas and her eco, foam free ethos, using British Flowers as much as possible and reducing her carbon footprint in as many aspects of her business as she can.
The problem? Finding the right information and training and getting to this point!
"I knew, after going through traditional floristry training myself, that I was desperate to teach something different. It frustrated me that the teaching style seemed so outmoded, so laborious, so full of jargon and theory, and, for me, not very relatable. Not to mention - the complete lack of eco-credentials and any training in foam-free techniques. I've had to learn ALL of that myself, the hard way. I felt like I was in the wrong place, and almost dropped out of the course on several occasions. It makes me so sad to think I might not have found this true passion for floristry, had I not taken things into my own hands and laboured through it. That seems so crazy to me now!"
Roz Chandler
As a child, Roz loved nothing more than messing around outdoors. Several decades later and Roz has created her own farm – at her home in Lathbury, Milton Keynes where she runs the thriving 5 acre flower farm Field Gate Flowers.
A BSc in Environmental Science led onto studying for an MA in Digital Strategies with a research project on the sustainability of flower farming. Combine this with a career of over 30 years in marketing and sales and there is little doubt that Roz is one of the only flower farmers globally with such an extensive combined knowledge of sales / marketing and cut flower farming.
Sustainable Growing
Roz is passionate about growing, harvesting and arranging seasonally-grown British blooms without putting additional strain on the environment. Field Gate Flowers was established in 2012 and to this day is run on the principles of organic and sustainable farming. In partnership with horticultural consultants and her RHS-qualified plant team, Roz employs biological and cultural control methods such as natural predators. She promotes the use of sustainable floral mechanics for any floristry carried out on the farm or using Field Gate plant material.
Business Mentoring
Prior to running a flower farm, Roz set up and developed a digital marketing agency, employing over 30 staff and working with clients such as The Open University, Unilever, and EasyJet. For several years she was a Non-Executive Director of one of the largest agricultural buying groups in the UK, giving her an innate understanding of farming and the challenges faced.
Passionate about sustainable flower growing and floristry
Roz’s dream is to encourage more people to build the businesses they deserve in flower farming. As a flower farmer and florist, Roz has always had sustainability at the heart of what she has done at Field Gate Flowers. She met Ali through a mutual contact and Roz was impressed with her floristry style and skill. Alis values aligned with Roz’s and over numerous cups of tea, The Great British Florist School was launched!
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