Even though it’s autumn, something is blooming in Abbotsbury this month.
Abbey Farm Flowers, a pick your own flower farm in the centre of the historic village, is expanding into bigger premises.
Founded in 2021, Abbey Farm Flowers and business owners Amy Ralph and Emma Hughes are heading towards their fourth Christmas, and this year they are taking on a bigger building to enable them to expand their offering to customers.
Until now, they have had a small shop in the stable end of an 18th century stone piggery, but now they’re going to occupy the whole building.
Flower farmer Amy Ralph said: “We’re really excited about the expansion, as it means we can offer our customers a lot more. We’ll have more space for retail, and we will have enough space to offer workshops in house.
"Our flower and wreath workshops are very popular, and we’d love to get other practitioners in to teach new skills and crafts.
"We have met some really talented people since we’ve been here, and we want to have them here to share what they do”.
They already stock locally made ceramics, art and gifts, but with additional space have expanded their selection.
Amy added: “We love finding new makers, and selecting things that have a local and meaningful element .
"We’ve also commissioned some exclusive Abbotsbury items from local craftspeople, as well as things we create ourselves. We are always keen to offer something new, as we have lots of returning and regular customers.”
Co-owner Emma told us how they have had a busy year, with two monthly flower clubs, weddings, workshops, hen parties and the Abbey Farm Flowers Festival.
There were celebrations in the village this year to celebrate the village’s millennium anniversary, including a visit by a Saxon encampment and Viking raiders in early August, and next spring they are planning a big plant and seed swap.
The run-up to Christmas brings workshops, Christmas trees and wreaths, as well as the two-day Abbey Farm Christmas Fair on November 31 and December 1.
Emma said: “We’re really pleased with how things have gone so far, but we’d grown as much as we could in the little stable - this is the logical next step.
"We’re open an extra day a week this year, and have added more flower beds in the cutting garden as demand just grows and grows, especially for weddings. We can’t wait to have space to make the most of it all.”
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