13th September 2021 | Covid-19

Surrey Lieutenancy Certificate of Appreciation

On 13th September, Farmer Patrick and his Team at Godstone Flower Farm, received a Surrey Lieutenancy Certificate of Appreciation from Caroline Breckell MVO, a Deputy Lieutenant of Surrey. Over the last 18 months, Farmer Patrick and the Flower Farm team have worked tirelessly to support the local community in any way they can, through what has been a very challenging time for all. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic they acted quickly and responsibly setting up an online shop; closing their farm shop to the public, using the space as a packing shed for their online delivery service, because they understood that this was the best way to reach as many people as they could by delivering vital food goods that were in great demand. As well as donating free fruit to NHS nurses, and food boxes to local schools and food banks, they also worked to support local dairy farmers and food suppliers who had been affected by cafe and restaurant closures – buying in extra produce and gifting to customers for free. As well as boosting morale and community spirits in the height of the pandemic creating a weekly newsletter for customers to stay in touch, running home-schooling competitions for kids at home, and commissioning a limited edition Victory Ale for customers to enjoy VE Day, they turned their fields into a huge pub garden to enable everyone to enjoy a safe outdoor space when restrictions lifted, and continued to adapt and evolve this space meeting all the government requirements – being one of the only venues around able to bring live music and entertainment back into the community. The Flower Farm team have continued to give back to their local community, donating to local charities, school raffles, hospices and sponsoring three local football clubs (Godstone FC, Oxted FC and Whyteleafe Women’s FC). They recently donated £1,000 to Godstone Scouts Hut and helped raise awareness of their appeal to save the Scout Hut through their own social media platforms, and very recently donated their entire pub garden site, farm staff, time and event management skills to SASH Charity – which enabled the charity to hold a three day festival of thanks for Surrey and Sussex NHS Healthcare Trust Staff for an entire weekend. Farmer Patrick says, “it’s important to support the community that support us – without them we wouldn’t be here, so we are always looking for ways to help, ways to give back and bring a smile to someone’s face.”

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