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| Florist reduces waste by giving blooms a new life | Florist reduces waste by giving blooms a new life |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Ursula Stone founded The Flower Bank to reduce waste in the flower sector | Ursula Stone founded The Flower Bank to reduce waste in the flower sector |
| A charity founder in north London says she tries to bring joy to others by making flowers affordable. | A charity founder in north London says she tries to bring joy to others by making flowers affordable. |
| Ursula Stone founded a social enterprise in 2019 that turns blooms at the end of their shelf-life into beautiful arrangements which are donated to local places such as care homes or sold. | Ursula Stone founded a social enterprise in 2019 that turns blooms at the end of their shelf-life into beautiful arrangements which are donated to local places such as care homes or sold. |
| The Flower Bank in New Barnet, north London, aims to reduce waste in the flower sector by repurposing stems that would have otherwise been thrown away. | The Flower Bank in New Barnet, north London, aims to reduce waste in the flower sector by repurposing stems that would have otherwise been thrown away. |
| These are then used to teach flower arranging skills to young offenders, people with mental health issues and older people. | These are then used to teach flower arranging skills to young offenders, people with mental health issues and older people. |
| The Flower Bank sells some of the blooms it repurposes to customers | The Flower Bank sells some of the blooms it repurposes to customers |
| Ms Stone sources the flowers from supermarkets, film studios, weddings, fashion shoots, corporate events and cemeteries. | Ms Stone sources the flowers from supermarkets, film studios, weddings, fashion shoots, corporate events and cemeteries. |
| They are then taken to the shop to be repurposed. | They are then taken to the shop to be repurposed. |
| Some are sold to people who walk into the shop and others are used for classes. | Some are sold to people who walk into the shop and others are used for classes. |
| "My rule to life is spontaneity," Ms Stone said. "When I am on my way to pick up the flowers, that's when I am thinking of ideas of what to do with them. | "My rule to life is spontaneity," Ms Stone said. "When I am on my way to pick up the flowers, that's when I am thinking of ideas of what to do with them. |
| "I love the classes as it brings people together and creates a community that learns new skills. | "I love the classes as it brings people together and creates a community that learns new skills. |
| "Not many others are doing this - it's completely unique, it's something to look forward to. | "Not many others are doing this - it's completely unique, it's something to look forward to. |
| "My reason for doing this is making the flowers affordable and bringing joy to people who wouldn't normally get them". | "My reason for doing this is making the flowers affordable and bringing joy to people who wouldn't normally get them". |
| Flower arranging classes are held every Tuesday morning at the Hope Corner Community Centre. | Flower arranging classes are held every Tuesday morning at the Hope Corner Community Centre. |
| One of those in attendance is Andi Paraskeva from East Barnet. | One of those in attendance is Andi Paraskeva from East Barnet. |
| Ms Paraskeva has been coming to the classes for more than two years and said they have "given her more confidence" by learning new skills. | Ms Paraskeva has been coming to the classes for more than two years and said they have "given her more confidence" by learning new skills. |
| "I look forward to a Tuesday morning, it gets you out the house and you get to meet new people" she said. | "I look forward to a Tuesday morning, it gets you out the house and you get to meet new people" she said. |
| Ms Stone also runs classes on Fridays for people with dementia. | Ms Stone also runs classes on Fridays for people with dementia. |
| They are accompanied by their family members and make their flower arrangements together. | They are accompanied by their family members and make their flower arrangements together. |
| Ms Stone said those classes were important to her because "it gives them something to do together that isn't hospital related". | Ms Stone said those classes were important to her because "it gives them something to do together that isn't hospital related". |
| Ms Stone teaches flower arranging skills to the elderly, young offenders and people with mental health issues. | Ms Stone teaches flower arranging skills to the elderly, young offenders and people with mental health issues. |
| She added that she also recycles plastic items used to hold flowers in funeral arrangements. | She added that she also recycles plastic items used to hold flowers in funeral arrangements. |
| These are given to her by cemetery groundsmen when the floral display is eventually thrown away. | These are given to her by cemetery groundsmen when the floral display is eventually thrown away. |
| "Most people aren't aware of how much single-use plastic is used during funeral flower arrangements," Ms Stone said. | "Most people aren't aware of how much single-use plastic is used during funeral flower arrangements," Ms Stone said. |
| The plastic she recovers is then sent to Capel Manor College in Enfield, where she learnt floristry. The college uses the materials for its current students. | The plastic she recovers is then sent to Capel Manor College in Enfield, where she learnt floristry. The college uses the materials for its current students. |
| Ms Stone has raised almost £70,000 in a crowdfunder to open her shop and is reliant on grants to keep it running. | |
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