A CUT flower farm has been created in part of a renovated pub garden in Witheridge Hill.
The Flower Tap, based at the Rising Sun, opened its doors in June after months of work to transform the land.
Selina Craig, 55, from Highmoor, who specialises in estate management, renovation and design, proposed the project to John Bowe, 43, one of the pub’s tenants.
It features about 5,000 flowers of different types, including hydrangeas, sweet peas and dahlias.
They sell flower subscriptions, hold pick your own flower sessions and host events, including pizza nights and afternoon tea.
Residents donated a polytunnel, greenhouse and a shed from which they sell card and picture designs, vases and pastries from Imma the Bakery in Stoke Row.
The land is also home to 30 battery farm rescue chickens and a cockerel, called King Richard III, as well as a flock of 55 ducks, also rescued from a battery farm and taught to swim by Mr Bowe.
Ms Craig retired in 2019 and completed a level two Royal Horticultural Society course at Berkshire College of Agriculture after being made redundant from an AI firm.
She said: “I used to come to the pub when I moved to the village a couple of years ago. I loved the pub and knew John was really into gardening.
“I cheekily asked if I could rent a bit of his outside space. He said no but I could build a flower farm instead.”
Ms Craig used a non-dig gardening method to turn the plot of land into a blooming garden.
A drip-line hose feature with in-built emitters for water distribution directly to the roots was installed to help the plants grow.
Ms Craig said: “It’s a practice which is environmentally friendly because you don’t disturb the soil.
“We took out the weeds from the top and put cardboard down with manure on top, which you can plant into. The cardboard disintegrates so minimal weeds come through and then we chipped around the rest of the area.”
Mr Bowe, who used to be a croupier, took over the Brakspear pub five years ago with his business partner Kate Makin, 43. They have recently extended their lease for another five years.
He said: “My family are all farmers, and I spent a lot of time with my grandparents. My grandma was also a big gardener and my neighbour taught me to make hanging baskets.
“When Selina asked if I would rent her space for a vegetable patch in return for a cut flower garden, I thought she was joking. I woke up the next morning and she was digging in the field.
“It continued to get bigger and bigger. We had an honesty box and then a shed shop and now we’re doing weddings and selling to florists and expanding. It’s basically a garden centre now.”
An afternoon tea event will take place on Wednesday, August 27, from 3.30pm and visitors can pick their own flowers to be arranged in jam jars. Tickets cost £33. For more information, visit www.tinyurl
.com/yuxzk3xs
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