Evolve Flowers welcomes move towards sustainable church flowers

A new approach to church flowers is an opportunity to create beautiful displays while caring for the environment, and Evolve Flowers is ready to help.

Evolve Flowers welcomes the recent General Synod decision encouraging churches and cathedrals to move away from floral foam and other non-biodegradable, single-use products.

For generations, church flower arrangers have created beautiful displays for regular worship, weddings, funerals and special occasions. Now, there is an opportunity to combine that tradition with more sustainable ways of working.

For Evolve Flowers, this is something we wholeheartedly support.

Beautiful flowers without floral foam

Floral foam has been a familiar tool for florists and church flower arrangers for decades, but it is a single-use, non-biodegradable material that can break down into microplastics.

The move away from foam does not mean compromising on creativity or beautiful displays. There are plenty of alternative techniques, many of which are based on traditional methods of flower arranging.

Chicken wire, twigs, reusable containers and water-based designs can all be used to create effective mechanics for church flowers. Choosing seasonal flowers and foliage, particularly those grown locally, can also help reduce the environmental impact of floral displays.

In many cases, the answer isn't about finding a new product to replace floral foam – it's about going back to techniques that flower arrangers have used successfully for generations.

Supporting church flower groups

We know that moving away from floral foam may seem daunting, particularly for church flower groups that have relied on it for many years. That's why we hope Evolve Flowers can play a part in helping church flower groups around the country explore sustainable alternatives.

Our aim isn't simply to tell people to stop using floral foam. We want to show what is possible and make sustainable flower arranging practical, achievable and enjoyable.

Whether you're looking for ideas for weekly church flowers, a special service or a large seasonal display, there are plenty of ways to create beautiful arrangements using sustainable techniques.

Meet Helen

Evolve Flowers founder Helen Chambers NDSF is a NAFAS demonstrator and teacher, with many years of experience in floristry and flower arranging.

Helen is available to give demonstrations and talks on sustainable flower arranging, sharing practical ideas and techniques that church flower groups can take away and use themselves.

Helen's demonstrations explore alternatives to floral foam, traditional flower arranging mechanics, seasonal British flowers and ways to create attractive, sustainable designs without relying on single-use materials.

We'd love the opportunity to work with church flower groups, NAFAS groups and other organisations across the country that are looking to make their flower arranging more sustainable.

Sustainable doesn't have to mean complicated and it certainly doesn't have to mean less beautiful.

If your church flower group would like to find out more about sustainable flower arranging or would like to arrange a demonstration or talk with Helen, please get in touch with Evolve Flowers.