On Wednesday we arranged our first crocheted length of flowers around a lamp post, thank you Sue Arran for your marvellous skills. I’m delighted to say that extra hands in the form of Penny Baxter and U3a’s recycling group are now involved. On Thursday morning I noticed I’d suddenly gained a lot more followers on Instagram who messaged that what I was doing was incredibly kind. I quickly realised that they were referring to the video that Kamilah and her team from the BBC had filmed last month. The article was very humbling but so too were the comments and messages of support from strangers. On the strength of that we’re going to do a treasure hunt of flower bombs in and around UK on World Mental Health day which is Saturday 13 October and encourage others to leave bunches of flowers for others to find. Finally, yesterday we teamed up with local zero waste champions to hold a socially distanced pop up market - thanks to all who came and we’ll definitely be doing another one (if we’re able) at Christmas time. Thanks to my tremendous team of Julie, Anna, Monica (who made her first bouquet yesterday and was delighted to sell it to a total stranger) and Mary. Have a great week and if you fancy learning how to make a Kokedama next Saturday I’ll be at Lordship Rec Hub as part of Tottenham Flower & Produce Show..

Two teenagers joined our ranks of volunteers this week, Melissa & Elliot,Tuesdays and Fridays respectively. They’re here to help at The Flower Bank and build their self confidence in the process. This week’s special offer - £4 hanging baskets - were understandably flying out the door so Elliot created 6 more and was a life saver in the process! Friday was not just Rosh Hashanah but also the wedding of Etornam & Kafui (see picture) I’d been asked earlier in the week to create the bride’s bouquet but with an hour’s notice on Friday we needed 2 more buttonholes and 2 table displays - fortunately I’m at my best under pressure. It’s less than a week to go before our socially distanced Zero Waste market at the Wilds in New Barnet (EN4 8RN) on Saturday 26th September, 1.30 - 4.30. I do hope you’ll visit us, particularly Roland and Dominique who are childhood friends and who haven’t met in years!!! My plea this week is for somebody to look after our books on a weekly basis as Corona and lockdown has thwarted my amazing helper. Ideally I’m looking for a non judgemental local who doesn’t mind spontaneity, can pop in weekly to pick up receipts, keep my records up to date and offer financial guidance in a jocular way. If you are that person then hello and if you know of anyone that fits the bill then please pass them my way. Have a lovely week. Ursula

This Friday night is Rosh Hashanah and on Thursday I’m doing a Rosh Hashanah workshop via Skype for Marion, Lilian and Gillian residents of Jewish Care’s Lady Sarah Cohen House. It’s going to be a zero waste arrangement in a jam jar which you’ll also be able to buy in our shop. As you’re aware Government rules are changing tomorrow and so I’m meeting Arta from The Wilds on Tuesday to discuss the viability of our Zero Waste Market which we’d planned to hold on Saturday 26th September. Above all we want everyone to keep safe. It’s the second Sunday of the month so that means it’s Tottenham market, fresh flower stocks are low but we’ve got plenty of dried grasses plus lots of indoor and outdoor plants should you wish to visit. We’re at Tottenham Green from 11 - 4. A crochet flowers update - thanks to Sue Arran who has produced a gorgeous string of knitted loveliness and following a call with Barnet׳s U3a several of their vulnerable isolated students are now feverishly crocheting. Finally if you have any photographs of your home grown sunflowers please enter them via Instagram to #barnetsunflowerchallenge don’t worry you don’t have to live in Barnet to enter in fact we’d love the from the more far flung locations. Have a lovely week. Ursula

Thanks to everyone for their offers of help in crocheting I look forward to receiving your efforts at some stage. This week after 6 months absence from school my daughters started their new term and I couldn’t be happier. Special mention to TikTok for their sterling work in keeping my kids amused throughout this period. September always feels like a new beginning and I discovered this week that I’d got a grant from the national lottery which will allow me to continue my online floristry sessions for Barnet’s health and well-being hub. On Wednesday, Helen (the lady in the photograph), visited The Flower Bank. Helen is no longer just my contact at Morrisons Borehamwood but a friend. She’s been supportive of The Flower Bank from Day 1. I really admire her and I’ve been fortunate to learn a lot from her and witness close up the system supermarkets use for their flowers and plants. Helen wanted to learn how to make a hand tied bouquet as some Morrisons stores are now starting to employ their own in house florists. The bouquet in the photograph was her first attempt and she was delighted. Next week I’m doing a “Make your own macrame hanging basket” session via zoom for Barnet Council staff as part of Barnet’s health and well-being month. I’m a bit rusty so I’m going to spend the rest of the day practicing my knots. Have a great week. Ursula

It’s been dreadful weather for gardening this week but with the help of Kevin, the Greatest Hits of 10cc and a tube of No Nails glue we braved all the elements. Sparklight our landlord offered us the facade of their shop to advertise in a quirky way the work of The Flower Bank. Having given it some thought I’d like to start by tree and lamppost bombing the area with crocheted flowers. I never learned to crochet as a child but have been given lots of tips and so will be spending the rest of the Bank Holiday learning. If you can crochet and you fancy making a flower please get in touch just 1 would make such a difference. Plans for the Zero Waste market at The Wilds cafe in New Barnet on the afternoon of 26 September are going well so please Save the Date. Have a great week. Ursula

I’ve been painting all week (dodging the horrendous showers of course) as we’ve had some planters built in our back garden - we’ve got more building work happening on Wednesday, courtesy of Men Sheds. If you haven’t heard of Men Sheds they’re a National organisation for men who meet to share their various passions. Our local branch is Muswell Hill but handily Mark who’ll be doing the work lives in New Barnet and loves gardening and wood turning in equal measure! This week I made my first wreath for a couple of months and it heralded the start of other floral enquiries which is fantastic. I’ve been asked to run a zoom Rosh Hashanah workshop for residents at Lady Sarah Cohen House in September which will be a first -I can’t wait to see Lilian, Marion & Paul, my students I’ve really missed their company. I’ve been thinking for some time that Barnet is missing a zero waste market, Bounds Green in Haringey is our nearest. So this week I’ve teamed up with The Wilds, Kronos and Rea and Edible London and on Saturday 26 September we’re holding our first market in and outside The Wilds in New Barnet so please put it in your diary. Yesterday I received notification that I’d been nominated for a Barnet civic award, although I didn’t win I was thrilled to be nominated it really is a great honour and totally unexpected. Have a great week. Ursula

I’m going to keep this message short as it’s been a long day. Thank you to everyone who supported us at this afternoon’s fundraiser with Yan Skates. It really was a team effort and I have a great team oh and we also found another use for Morrisons bedding plants, thanks Guy Sherman for your culinary genius.

Huge thanks to everyone who’s already let me know they’re coming next Sunday to see Yan - just to let you know a BBC film crew will also be present. I don’t know if you can recall but at the height of crowdfunding when I was flower bombing I left some flowers at the BBC? The flowers were discovered by Kamilah who was having a particularly tough time at work? Well, cut to August 2020 and she’s happier, still working at the BBC and is in fact the voice of the news on Alexa!! Anyway she’s doing a feature on acts of kindness and their effect on mental health. She’s been following me on social media and has seen what The Flower Bank does. According to the long distance forecast light rain is forecast for next Sunday which leaves me with 7 days to construct a Heath Robinson style socially distanced compliant canopy to accommodate everyone. I do love a challenge! Talking of challenges my own back garden needs some TLC and after watching Gardener’s World this morning I’m inspired to mow the lawn at least!! Have a wonderful week. Ursula

In normal circumstances, August is one of the busiest times in the Florist’s’ calendar as it’s wedding season. The wedding industry in this country employs thousands of people and generates a vast income for the UK. Currently flower growers and wholesalers, importers and exporters, event planners, caterers, beauticians, dressmakers, musicians, venues, entertainers., vehicle hire to name but a few are suffering a massive and irredeemable financial loss. This sector seems to have been forgotten so if you’re as concerned as I am join the campaign on social media and use the hashtag #whataboutweddings. I’ve been fortunate this week to sneak away to Scotland for a couple of days it’s been wonderful to re-charge my batteries and escape London’s blistering heat thank you to my sister and brother in law for their fantastic hospitality. Whilst here I’ve been discussing the growing options for The Flower Bank and I’m looking for a growing space in Barnet where we could work with an organisation/residential home to grow herbs could then be sold in the shop. Does anyone have any ideas? Have a great week. Ursula.

This week, Yan Skates, master florist, contestant on Netflix’s “Big Flower fight” and The Flower Bank’s kind friend agreed to deliver our first post lockdown workshop. The event will be on Sunday 16 August in front of the shop from 3.30 pm and the idea is that Yan will create some amazing designs from our flowers, pots and containers. The tickets are £20 each which includes edible flower cake and tea which is being catered by an ex school friend of my older daughter who’s now learning his trade at The Dorchester. We can only accommodate 20 so please book early to avoid disappointment. Thank you to those who’ve already spread the word and the creative social media genius that is Helen Harte from CommUNITY Barnet. I mentioned last week that I was going to start an online flower farming course, so I started it and have been inspired to create a growing area at the shop which will be for cutting flowers and foliage so if anyone has any old scaffolding boards or ideas on how to create beds in a confined space please get in touch. Have a great week. Ursula