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the cutting gardens
Two English cutting gardens within a few miles of each other. Nestled between three vineyards, in the South Downs, The Nutbourne Garden is home to the perennial and wild varieties of cut flowers, as well as the design studio; the Stopham growing space is a beautiful south facing walled garden (and glasshouse) on the Ancient Stopham Estate, and is where annuals are raised within the protective warmth of the walls.
the studio
A light filled creative space for crop planning, planting design, palette curation, cutting and conditioning, seed saving, flower-drying, and collaboration.
The cutting gardens and studio are, collectively, The Prairie Edit - A meeting of wild, natural beauty & intentional, thoughtful curation
Homegrown
A slow-approach, seasonally-rhythmic collection of the most beautiful flowers grown in that particular month.
At The Prairie Edit we grow and gather blooms that reflect our Sussex landscape; our considered take on natures untamed wild beauty, steeped in heritage. As stewards of our small patch of land, we believe we have a responsibility to ensure environmental health for future generations. We use a sustainable farming approach to growing our flowers, promoting soil fertility, polyculture, and eradicating chemical fertilisers and pesticides.
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Values
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local
When you buy flowers from us - or any local grower - you will know exactly where your flowers were grown and by whom. Local flowers reflect the land in which they were grown, and without lengthy supply chains (often, our flowers are collected within hours of being cut straight from the cutting gardens) blooms retain the qualities, such as fresh scent and movement, that make flowers so special.
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Our flowers are grown in West Sussex, collected and delivered locally with minimal ecological impact - grown, not flown. When you buy flowers from The Prairie Edit cutting gardens, not only are you hugely reducing your environmental footprint, but you are supporting a small business in British agriculture. Every British grown bucket or bouquet sold in the UK supports local enterprise in rural economies on a larger scale - flower farmers are, quite literally, growing a movement. If you would like to learn more about how British flower growers are transforming the cut flower industry, go to www.flowersfromthefarm.co.uk.
seasonal
Our Sussex-grown flowers are rooted in place and time. Grown in tune with the natural seasons, throughout April - October without the use of artificial heat. Flowers are nurtured within their expected growth cycle and then left to go to seed, which are then collected and saved for the next growing season.
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At The Prairie Edit We have a deep appreciation for the ephemeral beauty and generosity of nature, and so do not mourn the scarcity of peonies and sweet peas in August, but instead anticipate and celebrate the abundance of dahlias and Zinnias - There is so much to look forward to, and create with, in each season!
sustainable
At The Prairie Edit, we are passionate about protecting the environment and contributing towards healthy ecosystems. We grow our flowers following the agroecological methods detailed below.
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— Eliminating the use of harmful chemicals and pesticides. Instead, we employ polyculture practises such as companion planting and insect population management (for eg, by planting nectar rich flat-top flowers like fennel and achillea, to encourage ladybirds, who in turn feed on aphids which can decimate certain crops.
— Actively supporting Soil fertility. We focus on soil health with seasonal cover crops and organic mulches to replenish lost nutrients such as nitrogen, and improve soil structure. During the growing season, plants are nourished with regular organic seaweed feeds.
— Encouraging pollinators and biodiversity. We grow over 100 varieties of br (…)
— Crop rotation, diversification and residue. Despite being a small scale grower, we try to mimic natural wider eco-systems by allowing roots/organic matter to naturally breakdown in the soil, and by rotating flower beds for nutrient diversification beneath the soil.
— Water conservation & collection: irrigation /water butts/ rainwater harvesting is utilised across both Cutting Gardens in order to reduce water waste.
The Prairie Edit is a proud member of Flowers From The Farm
Flowers From the Farm is a UK trade association promoting a financially and environmentally sustainable local cut flower industry - championing British grown flowers, and connecting buyers with local growers.
The Prairie Edit is also a member and co-founder of The Sussex & Surrey Growers Collective
The Sussex & Surrey Growers Collective is local group, or ‘hub’, of small scale flower farmers. Our hub works together to pool resources, share knowledge, and support each other with growing advice and industry connections. Crucially, for florists and creatives, our hub collaborates to meet the variety, volume and consistency demands of larger wholesale orders and/or events that we would be unable to fulfil individually.
To find out more about the collective, and to meet other local flower growers, follow us @
