Blooms on the Green 

Order fresh, seasonal flowers for your friend or neighbour or to enjoy at home, and relax in the knowledge that they’re locally grown to the same rigorous climate-friendly standards as Growing Communities' fruit and veg. 

Shelagh Martin of Blooms on the Green grows pesticide-free, fairly traded flowers on the Old Bowling Green next to Dagenham Farm. 

Collect pre-ordered flowers from The Old Fire Station, N16 7NX, during the staffed collection times: Wednesdays 3.30pm - 7.30pm.

Email Shelagh to find out what’s in season and discuss a quote. Or ask to be added to the Blooms on the Green email list so you’ll be first to hear about what’s available or coming soon. 

Flowers play a vital supporting role in veg farming. Planting near veg beds helps to attract bees and beneficial insects that keep the numbers of pests in check. Blooms on the Green’s flower garden provides a fertile foraging ground for pollinators at the farm.  

For many plants, cutting the flowers encourages more to grow in their place – so you don’t have to make a choice between enjoying them in the garden or in the vase. 
 

• Order for yourself or for a special gift. Email Shelagh to find out what’s in season and discuss a quote. Or ask to be added to the Blooms on the Green email list so you’ll be first to hear about what’s available or coming soon. 
   
• During the Covid-19 outbreak, wedding orders are on hold. For wedding or large event orders, email Miriam at Woodberry Blooms, a social enterprise whose profits pay for community activities, employment and training support and providing space for community events. She’ll work with Shelagh’s flowers to bring you a stunning seasonal array. Read more here. Or call Miriam on 020 8800 8870.
   
• Later in summer, Shelagh will be dropping hand-picked selections of the best flowers in season at the Old Fire Station, so you can collect from there.  
   
• At some times of year, Shelagh has seedlings, herbs and veg plants available to buy. Email her to find out what's available. 

Buying from Shelagh means you’ll see varieties rarely found in florists, because they’re too delicate to survive a long journey from green house to high street. Sweet peas, for example, are fragile beauties that come in a rainbow of glorious colours and their scent is phenomenal. For a few precious weeks in summer, they’re the star of the show. 

"They made my summer..." Veg scheme member  

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How much do you know about supermarket flowers (or the ones you find in Columbia Road) and how they’re usually grown? To learn about their environmental and human impact, take a look at this blog post.