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Spring flower retreat: An ode to tulips


  • Starcroft Farm Cabins UK (map)

Join us for a mindful, creative weekend celebrating the beauty of tulips

In the language of flowers, tulips symbolise a declaration of love. And few flowers inspire such ardent devotion as the tulip. While the tulip mania of the 1630s is long over, they still feel so luxurious. The vibrant splash of colour they bring in spring, always so welcome.

We grow lots of interesting tulip varieties in our cut flower beds here and love arranging them in the cabins for our guests. So we’ve created an entire tulip-themed retreat that will leave you feeling rested and inspired.

For this special spring flower retreat, we’re teaming up with the very talented Anna Redding of @talesfromappletreehouse. During her workshop you’ll learn how to arrange tulips in a Dutch Masters-inspired bowl. You’ll also get tips on still life arrangement and styling.

Back at your cabin, you can let your creativity flow, experimenting with your arrangement and using it for your poetry, painting or photography. And, if you can drag yourself away, there’ll be the chance to visit nearby Pashley Manor Gardens, renowned for its spectacular tulip planting.

What’s included

  • Two nights in one of our cabins in the Sussex countryside, your own creative haven for the weekend

  • Guided woodland walk

  • Dutch Masters inspired tulip arranging workshop with Anna Reddings from @talesfromappletreehouse

  • Surprise tulip-themed book gift

  • Biscuit painted with a tulip by artist Nick Claiden, from The Biskery

  • Notebook to jot down all your ideas

  • Fresh bunch of tulips from our cutting beds to take home

Optional

  • A trip to Pashley Manor Gardens ahead of its world famous tulip festival

Extras

  • Delicious pre-prepared meals from Great Park Farm shop that can be heated up in your cabin

Itinerary

Friday afternoon

Arrival, followed by a woodland walk where we’ll collect treasures, such as feathers and seeds, to use in your Dutch Masters inspired arrangement.

Then time to put your feet up with your tulip-themed book gift and tulip biscuit, and enjoy a relaxing evening in your cabin.

Saturday morning

Dutch Masters flower bowl workshop:

We’ll meet Anna in her studio at nearby Apple Tree Farm for her morning workshop. She’ll demonstrate how to create a beautiful bowl arrangement taking inspiration from the great Dutch Masters. You’ll use sustainable methods and the very best locally grown seasonal flowers, with tulips as the show stoppers.

It’s then over to you to create your own flower bowl to take away with you. Anna will also share still life styling and photography tips and tricks to recreate your own Dutch Masters inspired piece.

Saturday afternoon

Back at your cabin, set up your arrangement using the selection of props and fabrics available. You might also like to incorporate some curiosities from home to make your arrangement personal to you (small flowering plants, feathers, trinkets, old books, beautiful fabrics such as velvet that have a lovely drape all work really well).

Then let your creativity run wild and spend the afternoon painting, drawing, photographing or perhaps penning some poetry inspired by your creation. If you wish, you can also take turns photographing each other’s arrangements.

Sunday morning

Enjoy a leisurely morning in your cabin, before heading off to Pashley Manor Gardens ahead of their world famous Tulip Festival. Nearby Pashley Manor boasts nearly 40,000 tulips in its magnificent grounds. Grab the chance to see the earliest bloomers.

Alternatively, you’re welcome to make the most of a late check-out (2pm) and spend more time reading, writing or creating beautiful tulip-inspired art work in your cabin.

Before you leave, we’ll deliver you a fresh bunch of tulips from our cut flower beds to take home.

Please note: You’ll need your own transport to get to Apple Tree House for your workshop, as well as Pashley Manor Gardens if you choose to visit. Let us know if this may be an issue and we’ll do our best to arrange a car share/lift.

About your workshop host:

Anna Reddings has been a floral designer for over 20 years. Her career with flowers started working in London creating lush designs for Fashion and PR events. Since moving to East Sussex in 2007 she has set up a studio and cutting garden at her home and now works across the South East.

Anna originally trained as a textile designer and this, her love of the natural world and the changing seasons all heavily influence her work. Her cutting garden is small but heavily productive in the British flowering season. She also works closely with some local flower farms who supply stunning varieties of flowers throughout the year.

As well as weddings and events work Anna has always loved sharing her passion for floral design with others through her teaching. She teaches group workshops at her studio as well as corporate events and special occasions. She also mentors and teaches new florists on all aspects of floral design. One of her favourite and most popular classes is the Spring Dutch Masters inspired sessions. Using really stunning tulips, narcissus, poppies, ranunculus and muscari, to name a few, that you just can’t find in your usual florists shop or supermarket makes this a really special and inspiring class. You’ll find Anna @talesfromappletreehouse on Instagram and at www.talesfrom.co.uk.

Cost: £460

You can reserve your place with a 30% non-refundable deposit of £138. The balance is due 4 weeks before the retreat start date. Please see our terms and conditions for details of our cancellation policy.

How to book:

Email us at hello@starcroftfarmcabins.co.uk. Cabins are assigned on a first come, first served basis.

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Spring nature writing retreat