star of Bethlehem

wild daffodil

English bluebell

WHAT?
The natural alternative to a conventional bouquet. A selection of wildflower plants, all native to the U.K. in general and to Coventry and Warwickshire in particular. The Wildflower Patch is run by a small team and can offer a personalised service. Plants are chosen every time to match the conditions of the space where they will live: Sun loving plants for a sunny spot, for instance, and shade loving for under a tree. Following discussion with each customer, products are individually tailored to ensure they are as suitable as possible for the intended recipient's age, lifestyle and available outdoor space too.

The Wildflower Patch Offers

Choice of Posh, Plain or Petit Pot already planted with your wildflower plants.
or
A range of over 20 wildflower plants and bulbs ready to plant in your garden.

With additional options of             

• Engraved, wooden labels, naming each plant, ideal to accompany a gift. 
• 1 plant which is listed as rare in the wild.  
• Delivery (FREE locally)/collection by arrangement.
• FREE advice and information concerning individual wildflowers, plants native to your specific address, their favourite positions, planting on from pots and lots more...   

                                                            

 

 

    

 

betony              kidney vetch              giant harebell

WHEN?

Products are planned in line with each plant's natural flowering season to provide interest for almost all months of the year. If left to grow, for example, Yarrow, which is often cut short by the lawnmower, can still be displaying delicate pinks and creams in December! And, for a Christmas or New Year gift, you can buy Wild Daffodil, English Bluebell and Star of Bethlehem bulbs, already growing in containers.

         field scabious and knapweed

WHERE?

Based in the Midlands, The Wildflower Patch currently offers an individually tailored service in Coventry, Warwickshire and surrounding areas. Materials are sourced as locally as possible. The plants are grown in specialist nurseries within the UK where seeds are gathered ethically and sustainably. The wildflowers planted in your Posh, Plain or Petit Pot are growing in peat free compost, prepared from green, garden bin waste at the nearby Brinklow quarry. What's that phrase; "What goes around comes around?"

  oxeye daisy and great mullein

WHO?

My name is Tracey Drew and, having been a stautory social worker in Coventry for over a decade, I realized that I  needed a change of direction. I grew up on a farm in a rural setting in Oxfordshire and, after a prolonged  process, decided that I wanted go back to my roots (no pun intended!) 

I became convinced that each city, as well as rural, garden can sustain a patch of wildflowers, even if just in a pot by the back door. After all, before many developed areas were even dreamt of, what was there but meadows and lanes with wildflowers growing in and all around them?  And, unlike cultivated plants, wildflowers just love poor soil, very little attention: to be left alone to do their thing...naturally. Even in the heat of July '06, I watered my pots of Birds Foot Trefoil, Wild Pansy and Wild Chamomile only once or twice a week and enjoyed the prettiest flowers all summer long. For me, the natural aroma of the latter takes some beating and contributed significantly to the idea for The Wildflower Patch!

OK, so I'll dismount from my hobby horse. As you can gather, this is a bit of a personal crusade! I left a "safe" job in April '06 and spent the ensuing year researching, plotting and planning The Wildflower Patch. The hottest summer on record was followed by the wettest. With support from friends and family, trading began, undetered and such is the interest that I'm just beginning to consider how an equally sustainable tho' national approach could work. To use a cliche, watch this space! 

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 cuckooflower and saw-wort

WHY?

Common sense, rather than academic study, tells me that native wildflowers are a crucial part of the whole natural system whereby insects, birds and, ultimately ourselves are sustained. We are demanding more and more of their space for buildings, roads and other developments, can we allow them a tiny bit of ours?

 

 

 

 

toadflax                 devil's bit scabious                     cornflower

HOW?

To explore further, discuss an order or simply for more information, contact The Wildflower Patch. You decide whether you require a Posh, Plain or Petit Pot, already planted with your wildflower plants.

Alternatively, you may decide that you prefer to have wildflowers to plant in your garden. In this case, your plants will come in small, biodegradable plant pots, sold in packs of 6. When you put the pot as well as the plant in the soil, no damage is caused to roots, they can grow as the pot disintegrates...and you avoid throwing away any plastic!

Just give us details of the additional options you'd like, a wildflower listed as rare in the wild, for example, or information regarding which are listed as native to your address. Ensure that you are happy with the cost which we will agree on the 'phone, prices start at from £12.00 and we accept payment on delivery/collection (cash or cheque). All that remains for you to do is to make arrangements for with us. You can then leave the rest to The Wildflower Patch!

 

night flowering catchfly          wild pansy              yellow pimpernel

Many thanks to photographers at http://www.british-wild-flowers.co.uk/ with whose generous permission these images are shown.

  

sweet woodruffe  bird's foot trefoil   ragged robin

As with any gardening activity, please ensure that care is taken when involving younger people, for  example, that hands are washed afterwards and that identity and safety of plant is known before consuming. Thanks for your interest. Tracey Drew. (07712 224192).