Petals with a Purpose: Rethinking Flowers for a Greener Future

Petals with a Purpose: Rethinking Flowers for a Greener Future
Monday 20 October 7-8.30pm, Guildford Cathedral (Refreshments and exhibition available from 6.15pm)

Behind the beauty of a bouquet lies a hidden story, that touches on climate change, global supply chains, biodiversity, and our everyday choices.

This special evening event, part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science, invites you to step inside the colourful yet complex world of flowers and sustainability. Join Associate Professor Jill Timms (University of Surrey) and a panel of local innovators in Surrey; flower farmers, florists, composting pioneers, and community organisers, as they reveal how growing, selling, and arranging flowers can either harm or help our planet.

🌸 What to expect:

• Inspiring talks from Surrey’s sustainable flower research leaders, from growers championing seasonal British blooms to florists finding creative ways to cut waste. Hear how ESRC impact funding is supporting them to share their knowledge internationally.

• A live demonstration with practical tips on arranging and caring for flowers in eco-friendly ways.

• Hands-on advice on how churches, community groups, and individuals can make small changes with a big impact.

• Plenty of time for conversation over refreshments, with opportunities to connect with local growers, arrangers, and sustainability champions.

-Holly Tree (Flowers by Holly Tree, Guildford-based florist prioritising local and seasonal)

• 6.15-7pm Registration, refreshments and exhibits available
• 7-8 pm Panel Discussion and Demonstration
• 8-8.30 Q&A

🌸Why join us?

Flowers are part of our celebrations, our rituals, our everyday lives, and their story matters. By making mindful choices, we can all help reduce carbon footprints, protect biodiversity, and support local communities.

Whether you’re a flower lover, church arranger, florist, gardener, or simply curious about how everyday actions can help tackle the climate emergency, this event will leave you inspired, and equipped with skills you can use right away.

Free to attend. All participants are also warmly welcomed by Guildford Cathedral to join them before the event for Evening Prayer at 5.30-6pm.