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A call has been made by a florist encouraging people to reconsider purchasing red roses for Valentine’s Day this year, and instead opt for flowers grown locally in the UK. Elizabeth Honey, speaking on behalf of the British Flower Movement based in Nottingham, highlighted that red roses are not naturally in season anywhere in the northern or southern hemispheres during this period. She described red roses as “the wicked stepmother of flowers” due to their large carbon footprint, suggesting that British-grown flowers offer a more environmentally friendly alternative.
Contrasting Honey’s viewpoint, John Davidson of the British Florist Association (BFA) emphasized the limitations of British flower production during this season. He explained that the UK’s domestic growers cannot supply the volume and diversity of flowers demanded across the country at this time of year. Davidson also pointed out the importance of basing sustainability conversations on factual research, cautioning against broadly condemning imported flowers as it oversimplifies a complex global supply network. He noted that flowers cultivated in warmer climates using natural sunlight or with advanced sustainable techniques can sometimes be more energy efficient than those grown in heated UK greenhouses during winter months.
Honey elaborated on the state of the British flower industry, stating that it remains heavily reliant on imports. While there has been a rise in smaller artisan flower growers since the Covid-19 pandemic, she acknowledged these cannot yet replace the larger producers that have been lost. She expressed a desire to encourage supermarkets, which sell the majority of flowers to consumers, to increase their offerings of British-grown flowers. According to Honey, supporting domestic flowers not only helps revive the national industry but also reduces environmental impact by minimizing air miles.
Meanwhile, florist and wholesaler Helen Chambers from Lincolnshire stated that it is still possible to obtain roses from reliable, credible suppliers. Chambers noted that some growers have significantly improved their standards, allowing the market to access the benefits of both quality and sustainability. She often manages to source 100% British-grown stems, which usually come from within about 40 miles of her location. Chambers emphasized the need for the UK to focus on its domestic flower production to avoid the heavy carbon footprint associated with repeatedly flying flowers over long distances
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