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Fiona & Chris McLeod own & run Chiltern Sky Flowers in Bledlow Ridge, working with the seasons & Mother Nature to show younger generations the power of flowers
There is no age limit to growing flowers, as long as you keep fit and healthy. In fact, can there be any more wonderful way to connect with nature and spend your life outside?
That’s the message from Fiona & Chris who set up their own small-scale flower farm in their late fifties. “We’ve lived in Bledlow Ridge for 29 years,” says Fiona, “but we only set up the flower farm in 2018, with a view to having a retirement project for our future.
“We don’t have children, but we do support our local primary school in Bledlow Ridge, who visit us as part of their nature studies, learning about the four seasons… Shout-out to the best primary school in Bucks!”
The couple are passionate about conserving our ecological environment in The Chiltern Hills. The chalk grassland and meadows are rich habitats for wildflowers and wildlife. Owls, bats, red kites, grass snakes, bees, moths and butterflies are some of their companions.
Their flower beds are constructed using the “no dig” method. They also use peat-free compost and are committed to reducing single-use plastic and recycling. They harvest rainwater from their cottage roof, storing it in deep, brick-built Victorian wells.
Right now the summer flowers (including a dazzling display of achillea, ammi, cornflowers, cosmos, dahlias, phlox, snapdragons and fragrant sweet peas) are blooming, before autumn-flowering highlights such as dahlias take centre stage, along with anemones, asters, helianthus, verbena and zinnias.
Fiona and Chris have nothing but love for their village. “Bledlow Ridge is small but full of local talent,” says Fiona. “There’s a fabulous café run by Martina up at the cricket club. Martina bakes our cakes when we host workshops.
“Bledlow Ridge is a small, friendly community and there are plenty of groups you can join”
“It’s a small, friendly community here and there are plenty of groups you can join to meet and make friends. Bledlow Ridge sits high up in the Chiltern Hills with beautiful views. It’s a fabulous area for walking and hiking, and brilliant wildlife with unspoilt countryside.
“We have a wonderful pub, The Boot. Down the road is the great pub, The Sir Charles Napier, then you have The Lions of Bledlow, the wonderful West Wycombe Walled Garden café and – our favourite venue for buying presents for family and friends – The Apple Orchard at West Wycombe.”
The duo can provide flowers for weddings & other special events. The farm will host a floristry workshop on Saturday, 7th September.
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