A FARMER in the East Riding is launching an ambitious new initiative aimed at breathing new life into the British flower industry.

Gill Hodgson, of Field House Farm, Everingham, near Pocklington, was shocked to learn that only ten per cent of the flowers sold in the UK were sourced from this country – the majority coming from as far afield as Columbia and Kenya.

Now, in a bid to encourage farmers and landowners to grow flowers for cutting and to generate awareness amongst consumers Gill, with daughter Peggy, has formed a marketing co-operative – Flowers From The Farm – and is looking for members.

Gill said: “Many of the flowers we buy have clocked up thousands of air miles and can be more than a month old by the time they hit the shelves. We are all aware of the major benefits of buying food locally but somehow flowers seem to have slipped under the radar in our quest for local provenance. “The aims of Flowers From The Farm are twofold – to encourage more farmers to become growers and to put potential customers in touch with growers in their area.”

Gill began growing her own flowers three years ago and now has a regular stall at the Driffield Farmers’ Market. She also provides for weddings and special events and to local businesses such as restaurants.

She points out that an incredible array of flowers can be grown on half an acre and set-up costs are not high. Farmers have the land, the skills and the machinery – they may not have grown flowers before, but are used to cultivating crops and these are no different. The co-operative will provide members with advice on which varieties to grow, where to look for new markets and how to get the best results from a small area.”

To become a member of the not-for-profit co-operative costs just £55 per year and Gill has calculated that with 633 members she can cover the whole of Great Britain. Gill said: “I want to see British flowers in every florist and supermarket. We can grow foxgloves, sweet peas, zinnias, dahlias and cosmos. Our flowers look beautiful, smell glorious and I need the help of other British farmers to put them back into every vase in the country.”

The new initiative is being supported by the Yorkshire office of the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) in Easingwold, whose regional director, Dorothy Fairburn, said: “This is a marvellous, low-risk business opportunity for farmers and landowners in the region.”

For further information log on to flowersfromthefarm.co.uk