GIVING FLOWERS
Connecting People
Giving Flowers
Connecting People
About
Loneliness, exclusion and disconnection within our communities has become increasingly present in recent times. The negative effect on an individual's physical and mental health is well documented. Society too is poorer and less harmonious when people and groups feel marginalised.
The team at Giving Flowers believe the gift of flowers is one way in which connections can be made and barriers gently pushed away. At the same time, the growing of insect friendly flowers in local gardens and allotments by a small team of volunteers can help to increase wildlife and connections between people and the natural environment. .
Our Mission
To grow flowers locally, organically and sustainably, to help increase food sources for insects and pollinators.
To cut and gift freshly created bouquets of flowers to people in our local community who might welcome them.
To increase, encourage and enable connections between people in our community via the giving of freshly created flower bouquets.
Our values
Kindness is at the core of the Giving Flowers initiative and its central importance in the making and maintaining of connections with others.
Connection with others, and with nature, is essential for all in our physical and mental health and wellbeing.
Sustainability and the nurturing and protection of our natural environment is vital for all our futures.
Our Story
It seems strange, in a world so full of ways to connect and communicate, that so many people within our communities feel isolated, lonely and forgotten. When several members of the Giving Flowers team had to organise residential care for older relatives, necessitating visits to several residential care homes, they often found residents cut off from their local communities and struggling to find worth and purpose. This sense of 'disconnection' left the team wondering how they could find a reason to connect with those who might welcome more contact with the world outside. Our own joy of giving home grown flowers to our family and friends, whilst wanting to increase the diversity of wildlife in our gardens, was our motivation for the Giving Flowers initiative. Through the growing of wildlife friendly flowers, and the giving of some of these flowers to those who might welcome them, we hope to make a small difference in helping to connect with those within our community struggling with the debilitating effects of loneliness and alienation.
It is in such small acts of kindness that people know they are loved.
The Giving Flowers team
How
A small group of volunteers grow, nurture, cut and collect flowers from their gardens and allotments. These are then cared for, prepared and wrapped into beautiful bouquets ready for giving.
Who
Flower bouquets are given as gifts to anyone living locally who might welcome them and a connection with a friendly person. People are welcome to contact us if they have someone in mind for such a floral gift. There is no charge. Giving Flowers is run purely on people's (and nature's) generosity with their time, goodwill and, sometimes financial donations.
Where
We operate in and around the Dorking area. We are keen to keep things as local as possible to minimise the use of transport that increases our carbon footprint.
Get in Touch
If you would like to join us growing and/or delivering flowers or just want to find our more about the Giving Flowers initiative do get in touch. Equally, if you know of someone who would appreciate some flowers do let us know.
