Belgravia in Bloom returns for its seventh year this May
This year’s theme for the annual flower festival is “Beautifully British”, and will celebrate Britain’s most iconic, historical moments and national treasures reimagined in flower form.
The neighbourhood will be transformed with a series of beautiful floral installations, unique displays and experiences thanks to the work of Belgravia businesses who are experts in everything floral.
In the year which welcomes The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, Belgravia’s leading florists, shops and restaurants will come together to create the festival’s displays and installations, alongside a host of floral themed events and experiences including British themed floral products, menus and cocktails, including a floral 50p on Elizabeth Street and a floral teapot and cup of tea in Eccleston Yards by Moyses Stevens.
From May 23-29, for more information visit https://www.belgravialdn.com/ and @belgravia_ldn on Instagram
Judith Blacklock
It's going to be a telegraph pole encased in piping and then it's going to be decorated. We’ll be getting these long garlands that I’m hoping to get off a contact in Northern Ireland. It’s going to have to be silk flowers because nobody’s going to be able to replace them. There's going to be fresh flowers at the base and lots of ribbon and in order to bring in more of the neighbourhood. I thought it would be nice to draw attention not just to us, but to the people around here, so I had an idea to put ribbons on the shop frontages with one flower at the bottom of each ribbon, and take it from the picture gallery to Rachel Vosper to the pub so it is something to see. Here in Belgravia we’re open to all. I think Belgravia in Bloom is picking up each year.
How will it be constructed?
It's going to be a telegraph pole encased in piping and then it's going to be decorated. We’ll be getting these long garlands that I’m hoping to get off a contact in Northern Ireland. It’s going to have to be silk flowers because nobody’s going to be able to replace them. There's going to be fresh flowers at the base and lots of ribbon and in order to bring in more of the neighbourhood. I thought it would be nice to draw attention not just to us, but to the people around here, so I had an idea to put ribbons on the shop frontages with one flower at the bottom of each ribbon, and take it from the picture gallery to Rachel Vosper to the pub so it is something to see. Here in Belgravia we’re open to all. I think Belgravia in Bloom is picking up each year.
When do you start?
We start constructing two weeks before – it is a huge project. We are ordering 350 metres of ribbon, 100 m of rope, chicken wire, 10 trays of moss, bundles of silk flowers, 5,000 stems of fresh flowers and I wanted to do some plants as well. I’m also opening a plant shop in May – we’re doing all of this at the same time – it’s going to be on this street and called Belgravia Botanicals.
Neil Strain
How did you come up with the Big Ben concept?
Big Ben has recently been restored back to its former glory, so we felt it was relevant to celebrate this iconic London landmark at this year’s Belgravia in Bloom! We also wanted to produce something that was a complete contrast to the floral carousel installation we created in Halkin Arcade last year, and for it to be a talking point for the floral festival. The four nations of the UK are represented on Big Ben, with shields displaying each national flower. We wanted to reflect this in our installation, by planting these national flowers around the base of our floral Big Ben.
Why do you love Belgravia in Bloom?
Belgravia has always been the home of Neill Strain Floral Couture. I opened the Neill Strain Floral Couture Belgravia boutique in 2011 and started doing floral displays outside the store that would change seasonally. Belgravia in Bloom provides us with an opportunity to be super creative and gives us the artistic licence to go wild with our ideas! We always love working together with the community to put on a stunning display in Belgravia and supporting Grosvenor with their objective to bring new people to the area.
What is the key to creating a stunning floral installation?
When creating floral installations, we tailor the designs to who our audience will be, so for Belgravia in Bloom, we want the general public to be able to identify with each installation. Colour is the first thing the eye sees, so we carefully select the palette of colours that will really stand out and, in the present day of social media, will also translate well digitally. We choose flowers that can withstand the elements and ensure they have a water source, so that the display looks spectacular for longer.
Is there a particular flower you always love using?
My signature flower is the Orchid and I am renowned for using an abundance of orchids in my designs. I love them because they are long lasting, come in an array of colours and there are new varieties of Orchids all the time. Our growers in Holland always strive to send us the new, rare flowers that come to the market and we have exclusivity over a lot of new varieties.
Chelsea Barracks
Chelsea Barracks will host its Spring Fair from May 25-27 transforming its outdoor public areas into a celebration of the ‘Best of British'; with garden seminars, Artisan’s Market, sustainable flower installations and a food and beverage market. Some highlights will include floral and plant installations by pioneer in Environmental Floristry Shane Connolly.
