About Me​

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I’m Lucy, grower and florist behind Chalk & Oak Flowers.

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I grow seasonal classic cut flowers, native wildflowers and foliage on just under an acre of garden in the Kent Downs in a village called Lyminge ( Folkestone and Hythe district).

 

Surrounded by oak and birch trees and open views across the valley, the land shapes everything I do. It’s a place guided by the seasons, the soil and the wildlife that shares it.

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The garden is my happy place, shared with my family and is deeply grounding. Growing up in the Kent countryside, I spent my childhood outdoors making mud pies, picking flowers and creating imaginary worlds filled with fairies and hidden creatures.

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Here, I’ve rediscovered that same sense of wonder, losing hours nurturing the land and working with flowers, guided by curiosity, creativity and a deep love of nature.

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Alongside the flower garden I also work part-time supporting students at a local university, something I really enjoy.

 

Keeping the flower business seasonal and personal allows me to give each client the very best of what the garden offers; flowers and foliage full of life, colour and movement.

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Everything created at Chalk & Oak Flowers carries that story, grown with care, guided by the seasons, and designed to feel natural, meaningful and beautifully wild.​​​​

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The Garden

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The garden sits within the landscape of the Kent Downs, surrounded by oak, birch and other established trees that help support the rich biodiversity of the space.

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Alongside the cut flower beds, areas of the garden are intentionally left wild to encourage insects, birds and small wildlife to thrive. We’ve created habitats such as deadwood fences, which provide shelter for insects  and a pond that welcomes our toads, birds and pollinators.

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A native wildflower area has also been encouraged, where I carefully gather a few stems for arrangements while leaving the majority for the wildlife that depends on them.

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These small ecosystems are an important part of the garden. The aim is always to work with nature rather than against it, allowing the land to remain healthy, balanced and full of life.

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My Values​

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All of my flowers are grown here ; not flown in from overseas or sprayed with harmful chemicals.

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Instead I use sustainable, chemical-free methods and a gentle "no-dig" approach that protects soil health and encourages biodiversity.

 

Instead of chemicals, I rely on nature’s balance. Beneficial insects such as lacewings, ladybirds and toads, along with garden birds, help keep the garden thriving.

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Seeds are sown in peat-free compost and I use UK seed suppliers. I do use a gentle heated bench to help seeds germinate in the early stages, but once they have sprouted the young plants grow on using the natural warmth of the greenhouse/cold-frame and then planted into their final beds.

 

 I practise successional sowing with some varieties to extend the flowering season and to provide a little resilience if crops are affected by natural pests; aphids being one we all know well!

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Water is collected through water butts around the garden and occasional, I have had to use mains water, such as for seedlings or weeks of no rain, like we had spring 2025. As the flower field develops I hope to invest in larger rainwater systems.

 

I’m also mindful of materials, keeping plastic use to a minimum and choosing durable items, such as reusable seed trays, that can last for many seasons. I do not use floral foam, but instead reuseable mechanics for my arrangements, such as chicken wire.

 

Flowers are wrapped using eco-friendly packaging wherever possible.

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As the garden grows, the business is growing alongside it. In these early years I’m allowing things to develop organically slowly, focusing on building healthy soil, strong plants and a thriving garden ecosystem.

 

In the future, I hope to continue reinvesting into the flower field and expand what Chalk & Oak Flowers can offer; including nature-led holistic flower arranging workshop days.

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For larger events, if additional blooms are needed, I source them from other trusted local growers who share the same care for seasonal, sustainably grown flowers. I am also a member of 'Flowers From the Farm' www.flowersfromthefarm.co.uk