Workplace Bereavement Attends RHS Chelsea Flower Show

Workplace Bereavement was proud to attend the RHS Chelsea Flower Show this year to support The Farewell Flowers Directory, a ground-breaking initiative that made history as the first ever display of sustainable funeral flowers in the show’s 112-year history and to top it off, they won RHS Gold.

We were honoured to be part of this milestone event as a sponsor of the exhibit, which shone a spotlight on environmentally conscious funeral floristry and opened up important conversations around grief, legacy, and sustainable tributes.

The show-stopping display featured a beautiful cascade of British-grown blooms flowing from a willow coffin, surrounded by a tranquil graveyard scene. Intricate details such as a floral violin, posies for sharing, and a wreath of living plants invited reflection on the meaningful ways we remember those we’ve lost. A life-sized wirework figure and dog, crafted by artist Susan Nichols, watched over the scene; a touching nod to the everyday moments that form our most precious memories.

Queen Camilla visited the exhibit on Press Day and met with Gill Hodgson, Co-Founder of The Farewell Flowers Directory, to discuss the importance of reducing single-use plastics in funeral floristry. The display’s message was simple yet powerful: funeral flowers can be sustainable, personal, and deeply moving.

We share The Farewell Flowers Directory’s values — advocating for meaningful, mindful bereavement practices that support individuals and families through the most difficult times. Their work not only brings beauty to grief but encourages wider discussion around eco-conscious choices at life’s end.

Visitors were also invited to share their thoughts on funeral wishes by writing them on colourful tags marked “I’d like my funeral to be…” These were added to the perimeter of the stand throughout the week, helping to break the taboo of discussing death and making space for personal expression and shared reflection.

Workplace Bereavement is committed to supporting initiatives that promote open conversations about death and loss, both in the workplace and beyond. Being part of this historic exhibit reinforced just how vital it is to approach grief not only with compassion but also with creativity and care for the planet.

Congratulations to The Farewell Flowers Directory on their well-deserved Gold Medal.

Read the press release from Farewell Flowers:

Read Here

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