A WEST Cumbrian florist has seen her business go from strength to strength in recent years after retiring from her full-time career just before the Covid pandemic.

Sue Johnstone had worked full-time in public service since leaving school, before retiring in February 2022.

She said: "I retired at 53 from my previous career in public service in February 2020, just a month before the Covid lockdown was imposed; this scuppered the plans I had to join my husband, who was working on a contract in the south of France at the time.

"I didn’t even get to go on holiday let alone ‘A Year in Provence’."

"I initially enjoyed having no stress and time to myself but quickly realised that I needed purpose and structure in my daily routine."

Times and Star: Sue uses British grown flowers wherever she can for her stunning displays.Sue uses British grown flowers wherever she can for her stunning displays. (Image: Dahlia Floristry)

Sue volunteered at an animal rescue, the village food bank and did some part-time work before deciding to take the plunge and enrol in a career change course in floristry in April 2022.

She spent the summer working from her garage, testing the market offering floral arrangements, before launching the Dahlia Floristry Cumbria website in September 2022.

Although she has admitted that post pandemic 'wasn't the best time' to start a new business, Sue has seen the business outgrow its original base and has big plans for the new year.

She said: "I’m hoping to have a little workshop built by the start of 2023, which should make it easier for customers to collect their flower orders.

"Seaton always had a village florist, so it’s lovely to be able to re-establish that amenity for our community and the west coast area."

Times and Star: The floral arrangements use absolutely no plastic in their creation.The floral arrangements use absolutely no plastic in their creation. (Image: Dahlia Floristry)

Sue believes her style of floristry is very natural and unstructured trying to use British grown flowers wherever possible, and always with a great awareness of the environment - using absolutely no plastic in any of her work.

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In terms of arrangement Sue says the 'privilege' to be able to design sympathy arrangements is one of the most rewarding aspects of her job.

She said: "Strange as it may sound, my favourite arrangements to create are farewell/sympathy flowers; it’s a genuine privilege to be trusted to provide something beautiful for the final celebration of a life that has passed.

"There’s a great deal of personal satisfaction from providing that tribute."

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