Judith Blacklock's Flower School review
Learn flower arrangement at the highly reputable Judith Blacklock’s Flower School.
London is a playground of short courses for creative people. Enhance your life working with flowers and foliage (and fill your home with the beautiful results) at Judith Blacklock’s Flower School.
Where is Judith Blacklock's Flower School?
It’s worth attending a floristry course with Judith just for the gorgeous location alone. The Flower School sits in a quaint mews off one of the streets of London’s prestigious Knightsbridge. The black wrought iron gate leading to the school is overhung with purple wisteria and white hydrangea.
Nestled calmly amongst Victorian brickwork, the entrance is painted in racing car green and surrounded by an explosion of colourful flowers. It could be straight from a film set. I’d like to move in.
Inside, the small reception is covered in a riot of flowers and foliage opening into a light-filled sanctuary where the courses take place on top of a huge central wooden table. Dried flower arrangements cover the walls - it’s a cathedral to floristry.
These initial impressions were just the most standout of a wonderful half day spent with Judith, her warm and down-to-earth associates and a hugely entertaining course on flower arranging.
In-depth training by a warm and inclusive professional florist
I came across Judith Blacklock's Flower School by googling short courses in flower arranging for beginners in London. Judith’s courses stood out because they were of a good length (not too long) and competitively priced. But my main reason for choosing this course was Judith herself.
I’d read many reviews of Judith’s approach - her warmth, enthusiasm, her inclusiveness and her vast experience. According to her website, Judith is a Fellow of the Institute of Horticulture. She’s created a medal-winning stand at the Chelsea Flower Show. She’s the author of no less than 18 bestselling books and has taught floral design techniques all over the world. I definitely made the right choice in deciding to attend this course with Judith.
The New Covent Garden Flower Market tour
The day began early. The course I chose included a tour of the New Covent Garden flower market, and its various wholesalers, in Vauxhall. The flower market supplies three quarters of London florists with its produce. It began its life in 1670 in Covent Garden, central London, and relocated to its current location in 1974. Trade starts as early as 4am six days a week and there are 20 wholesalers to choose from.
The instructions Judith had sent on how to find the group were clear and at 8.30am we met inside the market at one of the cafes. The group were mainly women from a range of backgrounds and experiences - people travel from all over the world to attend Judith’s courses. They were a friendly and engaged group full of enthusiasm for the day.
For about two and a half hours Judith walked us through the flower market explaining the flowers that were in season and where to buy the best blooms and foliage, vases and faux flowers. I wanted to buy everything I saw - the flowers spilled over the crates that held them and some of the vases were incredible value.
Overwhelming choice, colour and variety of flowers at the New Covent Garden Market.
The team had organised cabs for our return to the Flower School which made the whole process so easy and social - we chatted loudly and happily to each other while admiring the manicured fronts of Victorian mansions from the cab windows on our journey through Knightsbridge.
Learn how to create a bouquet
As we entered the front door of the Flower School we were greeted by the sweetest morning tea I’ve ever seen. Fresh croissants, strawberry jam and butter piled high next to pots of tea and coffee. Cups and saucers decorated in colourful flowers. As much of a visual feast as the meal itself. We devoured the flaky croissants and hot coffee after our morning in the cool of the flower market.
Fuelled by a sugar and caffeine high we couldn’t wait to start on our bouquets. Judith and the team had pre-ordered a selection of seasonal flowers for us to build our bouquets with. We each had a bucket generously overflowing with pale pink roses, beautifully fragrant stocks, lime green oculus, pale yellow alstroemeria and grey-green eucalyptus.
As Judith began demonstrating how to construct a bouquet I realised that flower arranging is both an art and a practice - one that requires a good manual dexterity … that I perhaps lack. A few hours later and after several attempts to arrange the flower stems I was thrilled to produce what Judith kindly described as “a loose and unstructured bouquet, very popular at the moment”.
The day ended at about 1pm. The School provided branded hessian bags to carry our creations in. We all posed for a photo outside the School and were released into the afternoon feeling very satisfied with ourselves. My bouquet of nodding flower heads dominated our smallish Victorian fireplace for almost two weeks after the course and every time I glanced at it I couldn’t help but smile.
I‘m already looking at Judith’s other courses and will go back soon to learn more. Don’t pass up an opportunity to learn about floristry at Judith Blacklock’s Flower School. You’ll love every minute of it.
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