A CUMBRIAN flower farm owner has been left 'delighted' after becoming the first business in the county to receive a sustainability accreditation from a wedding industry body.
Cumberland Flower Farm - which was established near Cockermouth in 2018 and grows cut flowers for homes, businesses and events - has been accredited by the Sustainable Wedding Alliance.
Using regenerative 'old school' market garden methods, the business grows flowers and foliage from March until October.
Cumberland Flower Farm has a growing reputation for sustainable floristry - designing without floral foam and imported flowers - that celebrate the seasons.
Its ‘country garden’ florals have proved very popular with couples marrying in the Lakes, flowering between 40 and 50 weddings a year.
Harriet Smithson, owner of Cumberland Flower Farm said: “We are delighted to have achieved accreditation with the Sustainable Wedding Alliance. It is brilliant to be able to celebrate our sustainable work and have a practical plan for our growth and development.
"The accreditation process has taken us a year and has involved us analysing our carbon footprint, supply chain and processes. It’s very thorough and thought provoking!
"It’s easy to say you are ‘eco’ but this really underlines the effort we go to consider the environment.
"Sustainability is at the heart of what we do and to be the first business in Cumbria to be accredited is a great achievement. We encourage others to join and start the process.”
The Sustainable Wedding Alliance was set up in 2020 by Michelle Miles to help the wedding industry reach the country’s ambition to be net zero by 2030.
The process of accreditation 'supports businesses to understand their current carbon footprint' and create a sustainability strategy that helps them become more environmentally-friendly.
Michelle Miles, founder of Sustainable Wedding Alliance said: "Witnessing Cumberland Flower Farm blossom into a Sustainable Wedding Alliance accredited business fills me with pure joy.
"Harriet's unwavering dedication to long term sustainability sets a stunning example for the entire wedding industry.
"This collaborative journey proves that beautifully crafted weddings can be undeniably environmentally friendly, offering couples across Cumbria a celebration as radiant as their love, yet gentle on the planet."
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