Why press flowers?

Introduction to Flower Pressing

Why press flowers?

Once you cut a flower it will live for around 7 days, but if you press a flower it can last forever - and it's this magical ability to preserve the beauty of the natural world that keeps us smitten with the craft of flower pressing.

The enduring appeal of pressed flowers

The act of pressing flowers is centuries old and has been prevalent in many different countries and cultures throughout history. It's been used as a means of keeping records of different species, as well as a decorative art form.

Once a flower is pressed, it can be examined and admired in a whole new light. You can observe the minute details and intricacy of the flower's structure, allowing you to appreciate just how miraculous and extraordinary a flower really is. Looking carefully at nature is a pleasure and privilege, and pressing flowers is a great way to engage with the outside world on an intimate level.

Picking wildflowers

There are certain laws and regulations in place to protect wildflowers, in particular the endangered species, which must be abided by and it's important to familiarise yourself with these. You can also use the PictureThis app to identify whether a plant is endangered or not.

Buying direct from local growers is a great way to source flowers for pressing. They are often grown organically which is much kinder to the environment - just be careful, as you may need to clean the stems of small bugs!

The benefits of pressing flowers

• Encourages you to get outside and appreciate nature
• The pleasure of displaying pressed flowers around your home
• A chance to get creative with composition and application
• The process encourages you to slow down and relax

Further reading

Information on the law surrounding picking wildflowers

PictureThis app to identify different plant and flower species

Use Flowers from the Farm to find your local growers