Organizers at Shropshire Petals, a flower farm near Newport, are expressing concerns that the ongoing wet weather may jeopardize their plans to host an open-fields event for visitors.
Last year, approximately 10,000 individuals visited Shropshire Petals to admire the array of flowers. The company, renowned for its eco-friendly confetti crafted from dried blooms, revealed that the persistent damp conditions have hindered their ability to sow seeds.
Consequently, there is a looming possibility that their anticipated open-fields event scheduled for August might be called off.
Shropshire Petals, with over 40 years of expertise in producing biodegradable confetti, expanded its offerings by opening 25 acres of the farm to the public in 2022.
Despite the setback of the inaugural event cancellation, Marketing Manager Ashley Evers-Swindell reminisced about the success of 2023, describing it as “magical,” where “all the stars aligned” to create an incredible experience upon opening the flower field.
Evers-Swindell expressed hope for a successful planting season, emphasizing the importance of favorable conditions for their flower crop, as visitors from across the UK eagerly anticipate the event.
In addition to flowers, the farm cultivates potatoes, rapeseed, and wheat. Evers-Swindell acknowledged the collective anxiety among staff due to the challenging weather conditions, highlighting the recent opportunity to plant potatoes during a brief dry spell over the weekend.
However, the lack of suitable conditions for planting flowers has left them in a “real horrendous pickle,” she admitted.
Evers-Swindell emphasized that the persistent wet weather poses a significant challenge for farming activities but affirmed the team’s commitment to resilience and doing their utmost to navigate through the adversity.
“We will do our best and try and be as resilient as we can,” she affirmed.