A charity founder based in north London is dedicated to spreading happiness by making flowers more accessible.
Ursula Stone established a social enterprise in 2019 that transforms blooms nearing the end of their market life into stunning floral arrangements, which are either donated to local institutions like care homes or made available for purchase.
The Flower Bank, located in New Barnet, aims to minimize waste in the floral industry by repurposing stems that would typically be discarded.
These flowers are also utilized to teach floral arranging to young offenders, individuals facing mental health challenges, and seniors.
Ms. Stone acquires the flowers from various sources, including supermarkets, film studios, weddings, fashion events, corporate gatherings, and cemeteries.
These collected flowers are then brought to the shop for transformation.
Some are sold directly to customers who visit the store, while others are designated for educational workshops.
“My guiding principle in life is spontaneity,” Ms. Stone explained. “As I head out to collect the flowers, that’s when I brainstorm ideas about how to use them.”
“I cherish the classes because they foster community and provide an opportunity for participants to acquire new skills.”
“This approach is quite rare—it’s one-of-a-kind and offers something to anticipate.”
“My mission is to make flowers affordable while bringing joy to those who might not usually have access to them.”
Flower arranging sessions take place every Tuesday morning at Hope Corner Community Centre.
One participant, Andi Paraskeva from East Barnet, has been attending these classes for over two years, expressing that they have significantly boosted her confidence through the acquisition of new skills.
“I eagerly anticipate Tuesday mornings. It gets me out of the house and allows me to connect with new people,” she shared.
In addition, Ms. Stone conducts classes on Fridays for individuals with dementia, accompanied by their family members, allowing them to create flower arrangements together.
She emphasized the importance of these classes as they provide an activity for families that isn’t hospital-related.
Ms. Stone also emphasizes sustainability by recycling plastic containers that hold flowers in funeral arrangements.
These plastics are collected from cemetery staff when the floral displays are eventually disposed of.
“Many people are unaware of the extent of single-use plastic involved in funeral floral arrangements,” Ms. Stone pointed out.
The recovered plastics are then donated to Capel Manor College in Enfield, where Ms. Stone learned floristry, and the college repurposes them for its current students.
Through a crowdfunding campaign, Ms. Stone has raised nearly £70,000 to launch her shop, and she relies on grants to sustain its operations.
