This course will give you the confidence to design and build naturalistic, large-scale installation pieces without the use of floral foam. Using the structure and forms of botanical materials you will learn how to think from the ground up and how to construct effective, well-balanced designs that truly evoke the way plants naturally behave in the garden, the hedgerow and the surrounding landscape. 

Through five beautifully filmed demonstrations we guide you through each stage of making a bouquet, from selecting materials, preparing and conditioning stems to outlining the shape, grouping flowers, editing, tying off and styling the ribbon.

Naturalistic floral design is about instinct and individual expression - it is not about following the rules or trying to achieve perfection. That being said, having a solid knowledge of each of the seven Elements of Design - the fundamental keystones to all artistic work - is invaluable. Without this, it can be all too easy to overwork flower arrangements, repeat the same mistakes or simply feel overwhelmed in knowing where to start. A combination of design theory and a close observation of the natural world will allow you to achieve your creative potential as a florist and designer.

Written and filmed across a year in our cutting garden and studio, in this course you’ll discover a rich and holistic way of working with flowers and the deeply joyful connection of arranging your own grown produce.

This truly immersive course takes you behind the scenes on five special weddings, demonstrating the creative process behind designing beautiful wedding flowers as well as tried-and-tested practical and foam-free techniques for making bouquets, installations and arrangements.