Uniting florists, flower growers and flower lovers, British Flowers Week is a celebration of British-grown flowers and floral design. To find out more about life as a flower grower and the importance of buying British-grown flowers, we caught up with Alfie Nickerson, Biodynamic Grower and Founder of Burnt Fen Flowers in Norfolk:
Tell us about yourself: where did your journey with gardening and growing begin?
My journey started in London, where I grew up. I was a gardener there for six years after I left school and it was during this time that I planted my first seedlings, in my mum’s garden. I’ve always loved being outside but becoming a flower grower full time was never part of the plan. It’s happened very gradually, but it has changed my lifestyle so dramatically that I now can’t see myself doing anything else. I get to witness so much magic with what I do. Watching something grow from a seed to a flower is just one of the inexplicably beautiful things about nature.
How did you set up Burnt Fen Flowers?
I set it up very gradually, without realising it was not only going to become my job, but completely take over my whole life too, in the best way. Early on, my friend Richard Oxley and I volunteered at a biodynamic farm in Herefordshire called Fern Verrow and fell in love with the beauty of waking up to a flower field every day – that’s where it began.
The key to starting up a flower farm, I think, is having a clean slate to work with. At Burnt Fen, our first step was to cover the entire patch with black matting, killing the weeds beneath and allowing them to decompose into the soil. That way, we could start afresh.
Can you tell us about how you approach growing in harmony with nature? Why should we be buying British-grown flowers?
Almost every day I get to witness nature doing its thing, from birds singing in the hedgerows to ladybirds eating aphids. Seeing that – an example of wildlife working in sync to help flowers grow – brings me more joy than almost anything else. It’s a really beautiful reminder of the importance of growing biodynamically, in a way that supports the interconnectedness of flora and fauna.
The importance of buying British-grown flowers fits into the idea of looking after the ecosystem too, as they are much more carbon-friendly than those flown in, out of season, from across the globe. Awareness is a real problem, though. Many people don’t know that roses aren’t actually in bloom on Valentine’s Day in the UK, for instance; most bunches will have been imported from Africa. If that was made common knowledge, I hope people would think twice about not buying British.
Do you have a favourite flower to grow, or a favourite moment in the seasons on the farm?
One of the biggest challenges I face is making sure we always have lots of flowers available, which means my growing goals are ultimately shaped by supply. But if I was to choose just one to grow, it would be dahlias. I love them.
What does a day in the life at Burnt Fen look like for you?
Everyday is different, depending on the time of year, but it always starts with a walk over the flower patch, with my dachshund Wolfie, to take stock of what lies ahead that day. At the moment, we are planting and sowing lots for flowers at the end of the year. When it’s raining, we try to be in the polytunnels as much as possible, weeding and making sure everything is well supported, and in the sunshine we are trying to cut all the flowers and making sure everything is well maintained.
What are your jobs on the farm this week?
Right now – late spring – is one of our busiest times, as we’re constantly working to make the patch bigger for more flowers. This week, we’ve been starting work at 7.30am: putting manure on the beds, rotavating them and then planting them out.
What are some of your favourite other gardens or places to visit to immerse yourself in nature?
It’s so busy here in spring and summer (and so beautiful) that I find it very hard to leave. And then, come winter, I have grand plans to visit other farms and see what they’re like – and then find my schedule is too full. But I love going to north Norfolk and walking along the wilds of the coast up there.
What does the future hold for Burnt Fen, what are you working on next?
We have lots of things in the pipeline – not least growing the patch. Every year it almost doubles in size, so I spend a lot of time working that out. And sowing – there are always seeds to sow.
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Celebrate the beauty of seasonal British-grown blooms at our British Flowers Week exhibition open 4-8 June, where six floral designers will be exhibiting floral installations inspired by Cecil Beaton’s Garden Party and made using seasonal British-grown flowers and sustainable methods.
Purchase seasonal British blooms or sign-up to a flower subscription on Burnt Fen Flowers’ website.