The first ‘Rooted in Wales Flower Festival’ took place this October in the historic Welsh setting of Cyfartha Castle in Merthyr Tydfil, and what an event it turned out to be. A celebration of sustainable floristry in many stunning forms, from fresh and dried flower exhibits to paintings and prints, from demonstrations in flower creating to talks about what sustainability means to floral artists.
Each year will represent a different theme, and this year’s theme – Cynefin – beautifully captured this new festival through inviting individuals to explore this sense of belonging, a place where you feel naturally rooted and connected.
I was privileged to be involved in this festival and contributed with my dried flower wreath, this was inspired by my belief in the importance of caring for our environment and the communities rooted within it. It reflects my connection to Wales — our home — and to the landscapes and people that have shaped me: from working alongside my Mum in her flower shop in Penarth, to guiding and teaching my own children about the importance of caring for our planet.
Through my work with dried flowers, I wanted this piece to celebrate the beauty of flowers beyond their fleeting moment in bloom, exploring how they can be preserved, transformed and appreciated in a new form. Drying allows these flowers to take on a different life, extending their beauty while encouraging us to value what is already growing around us rather than looking elsewhere or importing in rom other countries.
The wreath brought together dried flowers and foliage from my home and surrounding countryside in Wales, alongside homegrown florals including helichrysums, ammobium, dahlias, alliums and echinops. Foraged elements such as reed grass and bracken fern sit alongside homegrown eucalyptus gunnii, creating a combination of delicate flowers, structural foliage and seed heads. Together, these materials created a piece that felt both natural and sculptural, rooted in the landscape around me.
As the festival celebrated sustainable floral artistry, I commissioned Sian Lester, based in Narberth, Pembrokeshire, to create the ribbon that adorned the wreath. Naturally dyed using plants, the ribbon had a unique, softly nuanced character, with subtle variations created through the dyeing process. Its natural tones complemented the dried flowers and foliage, creating a visual connection between the wreath and the landscape from which its materials came from.
The collaboration with Sian further reflected the ethos behind the piece: celebrating what is already here, working thoughtfully with natural materials, and considering how we can nurture and protect our environment for what comes next.
My contribution was amongst many other beautiful and thought provoking exhibits, and with the success of the festival, I cannot wait to see what future years will bring to Wales and those who are lucky enough to be rooted here.