In defence of flower arranging

By Megan Lane
BBC News Magazine

LAZY 'S' OR 'HOGARTH'S CURVE' Anchor foam securely, bend stems gently into graceful curves, insert them in place so they balance Add focal flowers following lines of upper and lower curves Cluster filler blossoms and foliage around central flowers maintaining rhythm of the 'S'

Flower arranging classes face the snip under new government plans to cut back on non-essential evening courses. But is it as frivolous as it sounds? To help you decide, here the Magazine offers four "essential" arrangements.

It's gone from an essential skill to a hobby largely associated with Sloane rangers, WI teas and church services. No longer are women expected to be able to construct floral displays that please the eye and impress the beholder (unless they choose to - nor is it an exclusively female interest).

But those who study flower arranging will have to pay more as the subsidies for such courses will be diverted to subjects needed by the economy.

"More plumbing, less pilates; subsidised precision engineering, not over-subsidised flower arranging, except of course where flower arranging is necessary for a vocational purpose," said the Education Secretary Alan Johnson this week.

But who studies flower arranging - and what do they get out of it? Claire Tack, of Greenwich Community College, has taught the subject for three years. Her course, two hours a week for 30 weeks, caters to both beginners and regulars who come back each year.

TRIANGULAR ARRANGEMENTS Secure floral foam, determine vertical height and horizontal width with the smallest flowers/leaves, make height higher than width Position largest focal flowers in heart of arrangement and slightly lower for weight and balance Fill in with filler flowers and foliage keeping triangular shape

"Of the 16 people in each course, most are women. They range in age from 24 to 70-plus, and come from many different cultures. A young gentleman was in last year's class and he got a lot of attention. He runs his own business as a functions organiser and decided to learn flower arranging so he didn't have to pay a florist.

"Others do it as a taster to see if they can do it professionally, or to learn how to make floral displays for their community or church. Others come for the social side, particularly the older students."

At Richmond Adult Community College in west London, a quarter of the students use the skills they have learnt in so-called "leisure and pleasure" courses to become self-employed. "One man's flower arranging is another's floristry business," says principal Christina Conroy.

And at the University of Bolton, classes such as flower arranging and first aid are run to encourage women from ethnic minority communities into higher education.

HORIZONTAL ARRANGEMENTS Use shallow container, anchor foam with glue/pins, position sprays of line flowers to establish shape of design Insert focal flowers in middle so they gently droop over the lip of container on both sides Fill in and around focal area with filler flowers and foliage

Topics covered typically include the care and preparation of flowers and foliage, their botanical names, the principles of design and basic colour theory.

"My first design tip is to start with a central focal flower - your nicest one - and then form a triangle around it, then another triangle around that and so on. Always work in odd numbers," says Ms Tack.

Her classes have a different theme each week, be it posies or a significant date such as Christmas or Chinese New Year. "It's a good way to find out about each others' cultures."

Courses also cover contemporary and traditional designs. While we have picked flowers to decorate our homes for centuries, it was in the 17th Century that the trend started for elaborate, fashion-conscious constructions. By Victorian times, women were judged on their floral displays.

CRESCENT ARRANGEMENTS Secure foam in container, determine length of crescent and insert curved line flowers/leaves to follow crescent form Insert focal flowers low in bowl for balance, stability and depth Fill in with smaller flowers/foliage, place wisps of filler flowers that gracefully taper off

It was 1950s flower arranger Constance Spry who pioneered what is today familiar - using twigs and wild blooms alongside polite cultivated flowers, a vase that could as easily be a gravy boat as a family heirloom. In 2004, the Design Museum dedicating an exhibition to her floral art - James Dyson quit as chairman in protest at what he saw as the pursuit of style over substance.

Ms Tack also covers the history and language of certain plants, symbolism that dates back to Shakespeare's day. "Rosemary, for example, is often included in funeral bouquets as it's a symbol of remembrance," she says.

For about half her students, learning how to arrange flowers is also a way to bring a little piece of nature into their inner-city lives. "They don't have gardens as they live in council flats."

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Your comments

I am British and am a licensed teacher of Japanese flower arranging. I recommend it for educational purposes because it develops both analytical and creative thinking in addition to fostering self-expression through art and respect for natural materials. If flower arranging is non-essential, then so are analytical and creative thinking - and art itself. I think something is wrong if flower arranging is not appreciated as an art form in the UK....presuming that art itself is not being phased out of the curriculum too. Stephanie.
stephanie houghton, fukuoka, japan

Apparently non-essential classes may benefit community and heritage. Visiting Ham House (National Trust) recently, I was told the that the extraordinarily beautiful flower arrangements in 17th century style were the work of volunteers from Richmond flower arrangers
Richard, SW London

I love flowers and have learned only thru experience how to arrange them. I'd love to take classes - till I qualify as a middle class WI type, I guess I'll have to a carry on doing my best. H
henri, Sidcup

Isn't creativity just as important for our economy as practicality? Flower arranging may not be my thing personally, but I still view it as a loss if these and similar classes will no longer be offered.
Paul, Bristol, UK

I thought this governemnt were banging on about life long learning? Learning and thinking are of paramount importance, we should not be dismissing the development of skills whatever they are! Is this another underhand way of trying to tell us all we can train craftsmen/woman without a proper apprenticeship? So you can now learn to be a Plumber Artisan at evening classes 2 hours a week over 30 weeks can you? Who do they think they are fooling.
Carrie, Cambridge

It is wrong to cut these classes. In its bid to meet its own targets for literacy, numeracy and skills, the government is, once again, depriving ordinary working people of harmless pleasures. I have been to a variety of classes locally. They get people out of the house and help to build communities. Flower arranging is not for me, but who is Alan Johnson to decide what people learn?
Lucy, London

This is yet one more example of destruction by this appalling contradictory Government.Evening classes have always been popular in our area although the number of courses offered have decreased significantly in the last couple of years. I thought this Government promoted lifelong learning. Surely it should not matter if people learn art or Computers it helps keep society active. Does this short sited Government not realise that many of these classes are a lifeline for many people. Perhaps they would rather we spent our spare time in a pub or casino. If less money was being thrown at teaching all and sundry to speak English then there would be no need to cut evening classes at all.
Anne Newton, Bedford

Anyone who thinks flower arranging is simple and not an art form should try one of the arrangements in your article! My mum has been arranging flowers for her church for as long as I can remember and I know the hours that go into each stunning arrangement. I also know how difficult it is to create something balanced and symmetrical (I've tried and failed!) and also the importance of colour and construction... It's a shame that people who wish to learn this just for fun are being penalised because the courses are seen as "not useful". Why should learning only be linked to work?
Miranda , Stourbridge, UK

I am upset and angry that, as usual, this Government is only thinking in terms of targets, quotas and financial gain. I have done a calligraphy course at my Kensington & Chelsea college for several terms, but this will be the last course - our teacher is pulling out before he is pushed, due to these cuts. I have a stressful job and calligraphy is a wonderful antidote to that. Plus it's an art, for heaven's sake - calligraphy is visible in many different media and the world is a more beautiful place for it. It's so sad to see these services, so vital for people's mental wellbeing, being pushed aside for the sake of producing more identically-qualified IT drones.
Julie, London

Yet another case of the Government being unable to let the education system provide the type of classes that are required locally and by forcing their chosen particular subjects to be given priority,even when these courses are voluntary. Nanny state rules OK.
Trevor Watson, Evesham