Wildstone Floral: Wild about flowers.

Wildstone Floral, run by Leanne Smith, is a floral design studio specialising in the wildly beautiful and unexpected. Leanne creates delicately complex designs for people who appreciate a more artful and experimental approach, as well running ‘how to’ workshops at event locations or at your home.

Leanne rediscovered her love of flowers and making wonderful bouquets whilst working at Polesden Lacey, the beautiful National Trust property near Dorking. When lockdown closed everything, Leanne missed her work so much that she decided to start her own business, and Wildstone Floral was born.

“Growing up in a family of gardeners who cut what they’d grown for the kitchen table, it was a natural move,” she says. “I’m an avid gardener myself, and observing how plants grow, move and interact with one another informs my floral style and design process. I like things to feel a little wild.”

Wildstone Floral combines the unique and the personal with its made-to-order seasonal and dried wreaths, gift bouquets and arrangements, all available to purchase online. Tribute flowers are also available as a bespoke request.

“I created 100% British-grown designs for Gaze Burvill at the Chelsea Flower Show. We got five stars from the RHS – the top score available,” Leanne says proudly. This year she’s also been working with Dorking’s Healing Alternatives, Reigate’s boutique Sollo London, and a host of other clients for events and homes.

“I love working with beautiful and unusual flowers and foliages – experimenting with materials which differ from the norm, to create designs which are unique and intriguing,” she says. Her eye is well trained, having worked as a picture researcher in London, and then studied fashion design before having her son.

But it’s not only the artistic side that Leanne enjoys. “Flowers bring people together. I love meeting people, whether hosting a floral workshop, collaborating on an event, delivering a bouquet, or building relationships with local growers and flower farmers,” she says. “Being local is very important to me.”

Originally from Suffolk, Leanne moved to Redhill in 2005. “The Surrey Hills, Headley Heath, the closeness of London and the coast are all great,” she says. “But it’s the entrepreneurial spirit and the interesting and creative businesses which support one another that make the area really special.”