For florists and flower growers, whether they're an independent enterprise or part of a large business, Valentine's Day is one of the most significant events of the year, bringing a welcome boost after the post-Christmas lull. According to the British floristry association, it is estimated that a staggering 250 million stems of flowers are sold at Valentine's globally.
Of that, one-third consists of roses, one-third of tulips, and the rest is everything else. At this time of year, the majority of these flowers will come from abroad, with roses predominantly being shipped in from the warmer climates of Kenya and Colombia. In contrast, one-fifth will come from the Netherlands.
If the thought of the carbon footprint of your bouquet is giving you pause for thought, you'll be pleased to learn it is possible to buy British-grown flowers for the most romantic day of the year from specialist growers who use heat and light to produce early crops of primarily tulips and narcissi.
But there are also small-scale flower farmers in the Bristol area who are committed to sustainable, non-artificial methods, even if that leaves them out of participating in one of the biggest days on the floral calendar.
Read more at bristolpost.co.uk