Linda Clark - The Spotted Dog Flower Co

My name is Linda and I have been working full time growing and selling flowers since 2014. Prior to this I worked in the constrution industry for many years, initially in administration and marketing, followed 12 years as PA to the Chairman, through the highs and lows building roads and sewage systems! Then a move into the IT department managing the teams installating IT and telecoms on big construction sites and a lot less exciting stuff resulting in spending far too much time on Doncaster railway station. Time for a change!! Joining the fledgling organisation Flowers from the Farm (FFTF) in 2012 when members numbered around 50, led to becoming co-ordinator for the East Midlands region in 2015 and Co-Chair for a two year fixed term 2018-20. Since I joined FFTF has grown to nearly 1000 members championing local grown flowers. My business increased from selling a few bunches of flowers a week to supplying flowers and floristry for weddings, funerals and in 2020 a big expansion in selling flowers to the general public, followed by a return to farmers’ markets in 2021 where from March to September you will find The Spotted Dog at Brigg, Lincoln and Saxilby. My flowers are grown with the environment in mind. The poly tunnel is unheated, the greenhouse uses electric for only two months of the year, the flowers pesticide free and tonnes of compost are supplied from our own horses and livestock every year, supplemented by bulk green waste. Flowers are supplied wrapped in kraft paper or re-useable vases or buckets depending on volume supplied! I use primarily British flowers, either grown by myself or sourced from other growers, locally in Lincolnshire and Cornwall early/late season. On very rare occasions I will use carefully sourced imported flowers if needed for the work being undertaken although more and more customers are requesting “only British” and are happy to work with the seasons. Media mentions have included BBC Radio 4 Open Country with Helen Mark on her programme ‘Inspired by Flowers in Lincolnshire’, Radio 4 ‘Farming Today’ during British Flowers Week, Radio Newark with Girls About Town, BBC television for RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2018 when I was filmed cutting flowers to ready to transport to London for use in the Flowers from the Farm exhibit when the amazing team won a gold medal. There have also been articles in My Weekly Magazine, Flower Arranger magazine, The Gainsborough Standard, The Lincoln Business Journal and in 2020 The Daily Telegraph in an article about the flower industry during the Covid pandemic. In 2021 I was delighted to welcome Lizzie Musham from BBC Radio Lincolnshire for a field walk ahead of FFTF Flower Farmers Big Weekend and we met up again in November when she joined one of our wreath making workshops at The Cross Keys Stow and made a wreath live on air! I’m passionate about promoting natural funeral flowers suitable for green burial grounds, never use floral foam and in 2020 became an associate member of the Association of Green Funeral Directors. My wedding flowers have appeared on Love My Dress and Rock My Wedding blogs and I undertake weddings only within a 50 mile radius of my home.