Florist thrilled to compete at Chelsea Flower Show

Floral designer Angela Turner said she was "excited and nervous" to compete

A florist has described being "thrilled and excited" to be in the running for Florist of the Year at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Angela Turner, who runs a floral design school in Ferndown, Dorset, has worked with a Hampshire grower to source flowers for her exhibit.

Ms Turner said she used British blooms where possible, rather than imports, to support local businesses and because the flowers offered “wonderful scent and character”.

She said she was “very honoured” to be among 10 people selected to take part in the competition.

The design for her entry, called Inner Peace, is shaped like a cocoon to represent how nature can be "a sanctuary and quiet space amidst life’s hustle”.

At its centre is a handmade rose feature, crafted using 250 different rose petals to make one large flower.

Ms Turner used pale colours to portray a craving for hush.

“I like gentle sympathetic colours - the often undervalued introverts of the colour world," she said.

The display is called "Inner Peace" to represent how nature can be a sanctuary

Ms Turner, who has been a floral designer for 46 years, started out on a Youth Training Scheme.

She has won six gold medals at Chelsea and said the individuality of the British flowers in the display, which includes foxgloves, sweet rocket and aquilegia was important.

"Unlike mass-produced flowers the stems aren't regimented, you get lovely curves that help to put emotion into the design," she added.

Featherstone’s English Flower Company in Hampshire supplied blooms

'Demand growing'

Some of the blooms are from Featherstone’s English Flower Company in Nether Wallop, Hampshire.

Co-founder Katie Stone said demand for British flowers was growing, though the wet spring had been tricky.

“We are often battling the English weather but having three acres means we grow a wide range and always have flowers we can use,” she said.

Katie Stone said Ms Turner was taking the "beauty of British flowers to Chelsea"

Ms Turner said keeping her display pristine for the six-day duration of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show would be a challenge.

“Top quality blooms help and we get a chance to refresh our display daily," she said.

"I will be there at 07:00 BST every day to maintain the exhibit and replace flowers as needed.

"It is the most famous flower show in the world, it's an honour to be selected and now I need to come up with the goods and do myself proud."

How to make cut flowers last

Grower and florist Katie Stone offers her top tips for helping cut flowers last longer:

• Changing the water completely, every day, makes all the difference and prevents bacteria multiplying in the water.

• Bacteria clog up the flower stems and stops them being able to take up the water and stay hydrated.

• Clean water is the key for getting a long vase life.