Season-led Professional Florist Programme

Designed and taught by Cissy from Wildstems within the grounds of Howbury Fam Flowers, The Season-Led Florist Professional Programme is aimed at both new and experienced florists. Taught over six days through the four seasons this professional floristry training course will provide you with all the skills, knowledge and confidence to design seasonally and sustainably all year round.

Designed with both new and experienced florists in mind, The Season-Led Florist Professional Programme is run over six days through the four seasons and will provide you with all the skills, knowledge and confidence to design seasonally and sustainably all year round.

You will leave after your ‘first season’ fully empowered and confident to put the skills you learn into immediate practice, returning for one more day during each of the following three seasons to further develop your skills as they relate to the unique conditions and materials presented by each season.

Students will work with the most exquisite, local and organic materials grown by Lucy and Jane of Howbury Farm Flowers. Under their guidance, you will leave with a deep confidence and understanding of the flowers available each season, how they are grown, cut and conditioned and the different requirements each season presents in terms of handling and design.

The mechanics of sustainable floral design are covered in detail. Hands-on practical sessions are dedicated to designing using different sustainable mechanics and to developing creative skill in floral design.

Running a business that is financially and emotionally sustainable is as important to me as one that is environmentally sustainable. Business fundamentals for success have been woven throughout the course, from pricing and presentation to problem solving and client management.

And lastly, it goes without saying, that floral design and arranging is central to the course. Every session covers the basics of design, colour theory and season-led arranging. Each day, practical hands-on experience of all the core elements of event floristry will be taught ‘on location’ in either the main house itself (using the magnificent fireplace and staircase) or in the grounds for ceremonial set ups and large free-form installations.

You will leave after your ‘first season’ fully empowered and confident to put the skills you learn into immediate practice, returning for one more day during each of the following three seasons to further develop your skills as they relate to the unique conditions and materials presented by each season.

The programme offers a rolling intake and students can start the course at any time of the year during the season of their choice.
The programme begins with a three-day intensive programme which covers the fundamentals of floristry in general, taught through the lens of sustainable principles and mechanics.
The Starting Season
Day 1
Knowledge: The flowers of the season and how the season requires us to think about and treat them. Tour of the farm. Cutting and conditioning locally grown flowers and building relationships with your local flower farmer.
Practical: The bridal bouquet and a vase-arranged bouquet and understanding their different design requirements from a seasonal and sustainable perspective.
Day 2
Knowledge: Designing sustainably with the seasons. The mechanics, presentation and pricing.
Practical: Funeral flowers and bowl arrangements.
Day 3
Knowledge: Designing with colour and garden-led design. Client management, palettes and mood board.
Practical: Urns and installations.
The Following Three Seasons
For the following three seasons, students will attend one follow-up day during each season selected from Day 1 – 3 above.
For example a student starts the course in the Autumn, and completes Days 1 – 3. In winter (their Season 2), they decide to explore bridal bouquets and vase arranged bouquets during the winter months. In Spring (their Season 3), they choose to learn more about how spring affects the design of installations and urns. In Summer (their Season 4), they choose to refresh their funeral and bowl arrangements as they relate to working with summer materials and conditions.
We want all students to feel empowered and confident to put the skills they learn into immediate practice as soon as they finish ‘Season 1’. At the same time, we believe it is important to return each season to develop your skills as they relate to the unique conditions and materials presented by each season.
We also believe that peer-to-peer learning is an invaluable resource, and returning each season allows students to tap into a broader community of like-minded florists.
Monthly Zoom Calls
Support is provided to each student between the four seasons of the course, both from Cissy and peer to peer, through monthly Zoom calls.
At the end of the programme, you will have the knowledge, practical experience and confidence to work seasonally and sustainably all year round, with a network of peers to support you in your journey of work.
The course costs £2,000, spread over 4 payments:
- Season 1: £1,100 (3 days)
- Season 2, 3 & 4: £300 each.
If the course is paid in full upfront, a 10% discount is offered (total course fee £1,800).
Payment for Season 1 is taken upon purchase, and payments for seasons 2,3 & 4 are due 30 days in advance of the respective course date.
Pricing includes all flowers and course materials, meals and refreshments, as well as monthly group Zoom calls between the in-person workshop.
Please see full Terms and Conditions before purchase.
The course is taught here at Howbury Farm Flowers in Bedford. Set within our beautiful walled garden and extensive grounds of mature shrubs and trees, you will work with our seasonal flowers and foliage.
All practical sessions will be taught within the grounds and Howbury Hall itself, and meals throughout the programme will be prepared using ingredients grown in our kitchen garden.

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