Newsletter May 2026
We have just had the pleasure of hosting a 21st birthday party in the flower barn. It's amazing how a few tablecloths and artfully placed decorations can transform what was a couple of days before a scene of flower harvesting/conditioning/wrapping chaos! The barn is still very much a work in progress, the floor needs painting as the unfinished concrete creates a cloud of dust every time it is swept, and I am on the look out for a small fridge as well as a couple more commercial catering worktables. We managed to sit 19 people around the table tennis table and 2 work tables joined together for a delicious vegetarian feast supplied by Vamos Kitchen (@vamos_kitchen). The party followed another social occasion last week where White Park Flowers provided a raffle prize and 3 arrangements for a wine tasting event at The Cathedral School in Salisbury. The lucky winner also received a monthly subscription bucket of flowers.
The weather may have been dry and sunny for much of April but that hasn't necessarily meant good news for flower farmers. This is the time of year when we are desperately trying to get young plants in the ground as they are wanting to jump out of their trays/pots and spread their roots. The wind and sun has meant the constant threat of them drying out before they get a chance to become established. We have been giving the planting holes a good soaking and plunging pots into buckets of water to give them the best chance of survival. The perfect planting weather arrived this weekend - damp after a good downpour on Saturday, still and warm - but I'm trying to take a day or two off!
The South West Flower Collective selling direct to florists is now in its third year of operation and it is exciting to be part of a cooperative that is definitely growing in momentum. We have 15 growers listing their products on the online shop every week and as a group are now able to cover some big orders such as the repeat of last year's order heading to The Newt in Somerset. I will be picking 200 stems tomorrow morning which will be used to make flower crowns at an event there next weekend.
There are still a few places available on our Yoga in the Field session 2pm-4.30pm on Saturday 9th May. Sarah Urwin from Ringwood Yoga will lead a gentle session at the top of the field with an amazing view over the Avon Valley towards Clearbury Rings followed by flower picking, delicious cakes and tea all for £45. Flowers ready for picking in early May include Peonies, Nepeta, Foxgloves, Verbascum, early Roses, Hawthorn, Philadelphus, Alliums, and even a few sweet peas and cornflowers in the polytunnel. Book via ringwoodyoga.co.uk
Dates for your diary:
9th May: 14:00 - 16.30 - Yoga with Sarah from Ringwood Yoga to include tasty, healthy snacks and drinks by Marianne. PYO Poppies, Geum, Lilac, Kolkwitzia, Alliums, Spirea etc. £45.00
Summer
13th June: 14.30-16.30 - Open Afternoon to celebrate British Flowers Week which runs 15th-21st June. Refreshments available to buy from Conkers.
21st June: time tbc - Sip and Paint with Su Joy. Wines provided by Mark Wilson from Private Cellar. PYO Sweet peas, Philadelphus, Delphinium, Astrantia, Hydrangea etc. £95.00
4th July: 10:00 - 12:30 - Yoga as above. PYO Sweet peas, Scabious, Hydrangea, Phlox, Echinops etc. £45
Autumn
26th September: 14:00 - 16:30 - Yoga as above. PYO Dahlias, Chrysanthemums (prepare to be amazed if you only know the 'garage forecourt' variety), Rudbeckia, Grasses etc. £95.00
3rd October: time tbc - Art class with Su Joy PYO Dahlias, Chrysanthemums, Rudbeckia, Grasses etc. £45.00
It is the month when it is difficult to prioritise jobs as everything seems to need doing at once - sowing, planting out, putting supports in, weeding, hoeing, harvesting, watering, mowing the list goes on! In an effort to keep on top of it all I would like to start a volunteer day once a month when we could come together and get a big job done with plenty of chat, tea and cake thrown in. Please get in touch (07526 746928 or sarah@whiteparkflowers.co.uk) if this would be of interest to you and we can set a date!
Thank you for reading and I hope to see you for Yoga and PYO on 9th May 2.00-4.30pm, Hale Produce Market on 18th May 9.00-12.00 or at our Open Afternoon on 13th June 2.30-4.30pm.
Located at Home Farm, Hale Lane, Hale, Fordingbridge, Hampshire SP6 2RE
