Thanks to Jane Lawson who has drawn our attention to an report in Church Times of 3 August 2022 about Sustainable Church Flowers, an organisation set up three years ago to  draw attention the environmental impact of church flowers.  ‘The concerns are first about the carbon footprint of importing unseasonal flowers, and, second, the widespread use of floral foam (often sold under the name of ‘Oasis’) which is made of toxic microplastics.’

Comments:  It is apparent that some churches, at least in London, are using easily available evergreens, probably grown locally, to form a semi-permanent framework into which a small number of colourful bought flowers are inserted as necessary.  The image below shows one of two arrangements in the sanctuary of St John the Evangelist Anglican church, Kensal Green, City of Westminster, on 2 November 2022, composed of evergreen Cotoneaster, Elaeagnus and Euonymus ‘frame’ to which red gladioli, yellow chrysanthemums (now dead) and yellow kangaroo paw (Anigozanthos) have been added.

Alternatively some churches seem to be opting for articial flowers, such as those below, an arrangement in the sanctuary of Christ the Saviour Anglican church, Ealing Broadway, London Borough of Ealing, photographed on 3 November 2022.  Although this was the dominant flower arrangement, there were pot plants and rather informal arrangements of florists’ flowers elsewhere in the church, on window sills and around statues of saints.

Upper image:  pedestal flower arrangement in sanctuary of St Michael’s Cornhill Anglican church, City of London, 22 September 2022.  It appears that all of the plant material used – delphiniums, hydrangeas, roses and a purple-leaved form of smoke tree (Cotinus coggyria) – is either imported, or produced in Great Britain under artificial conditions under glass.

Edited 24 November 2022.