Founder of Fawen; a micro-scale flower field and floristry studio based in Lerryn, Cornwall. I am Mum to three - four if you count our sausage dog, Bessie who is never far from my side..unless she's digging holes or barking at pheasants.. A passion for nature and flowers roots back to my childhood and has woven throughout my working and family life. Finding magic in the day to day and beauty in the tiniest detail of nature through each season and cycle is at the heart of my work. Flowers grown from healthy soil in tune with the season.. are the perfect portal.
I first encountered British-grown cut flowers and a more natural approach to floristry in 2011, sourcing and arranging the flowers for my sister's wedding.
When an opportunity to buy a 2.5 acre field presented unexpectedly in 2019, just a mile away from home, we followed a dream. Aside from repairing the barn and clearing brambles, we took our time to get acquainted, understand the lay of the land through the seasons and learn about the flora and fauna residing there.
During lockdown, I grew an abundant crop of sweetpeas and gave bunches to neighbours and a local care home. Witnessing the visible joy as the scent instantly transported the recipient back to happy memories, pointed again to the alchemy and significance of flowers in our lives. It was the final nudge to really go for it.
With my creative vision, my husband Julian's engineering skills, and enthusiastic help from the kids (that has long since worn away..), we began..establishing an area for growing, the study and application of sustainable growing methods and my favourite bit: Floristry and providing people with beautiful, seasonal flowers..
Our name 'Fawen' is pronounced‘FO-wen’, a Cornish word, meaning ‘Beech Tree’; inspired by the mature beech that encompass the field ~ home to our floristry barn studio, and where we grow our flowers in just one quarter of an acre. We are located on the edge of the Fowey Valley AONB above the riverside village of Lerryn. The name 'Fowey' derives from the word Fawen, so in a way, the land chose our name..!
