As with our sister florists located in Bournemouth, the team at Lansdowne’s Florists in Poole find inspiration in a variety places. Chief amongst these are the natural beauty, and stunning native flowers, of the region and the town we live in. With such inspiration on our doorstep it is little wonder that our artisanal florists believe we can provide bouquets for any occasion. We want to share a brief history of the area and the stunning scenery, and wildlife, found here in the hopes of inspiring others.
A large coastal town and seaport in the county of Dorset, on the south coast of England Poole has a population in excess of 150,000 and actually adjoins Bournemouth to the east. There is evidence of human habitation of the area dating back to before the Iron Age, although the first recorded use of the name of the town was in the 12th century. At this time the town emerged as an important port and prospered as a result of the introduction of the wool trade. The town later developed important trade links to North America, most notably the fishing grounds of Newfoundland, and at its peak in the 18th century it was one of the busiest ports in Britain. Despite its waning viability as a commercial port, Poole was one of the main departure points for the Normandy landings during World War 2.
Today, Poole is mainly a tourist resort due to its history, large natural harbour and Blue Flag beaches. The commercial port now serves as a base for cross-Channel freight and passenger ferry services which connect with the Channel Islands and the French port town of Saint-Malo in Brittany. The headquarters of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution can also be found in the town.
Due to the increased urban sprawl brought about by the Industrial Revolution and to prevent further convergence of the towns in the area, Poole lies at the centre of a regional green belt that extends into the surrounding counties. This is one of the reasons for the vast number of nature reserves and green space that can be found in the town and county. A fine example of local resident’s affinity with nature was the establishment of Cranford Heath, which is a suburb but also a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Cranford Heath is the largest expanse of heathland in Dorset, the largest lowland heath in the UK, and home to many rare wildlife species. It is also a great place to see the marsh gentian (Gentiana pneumonanthe), which has stunning purple flowers and is the host plant of the Alcon blue butterfly.
Running southeast from Cranford Heath is the Bourne Valley Local Nature Reserve, which is the largest stretch of continuous open space in the Poole and Bournemouth conurbation. Although primarily heathland, it offers a number of habitats such as acidic pools and grasslands, pasture grassland, woodland and bogs. It is another SSI due to the variety of flowers, plants and wildlife that can be found here. These flowers and plants not only provide spectacular views, they also attract pollinators that make them a great place for birdwatchers. The acidic pools also make the area one of the best places to see dragonflies in Dorset.
Rare flowers, including the marsh gentian, can also be found in Upton Heath nature reserve, which covers 205 hectares, and is one of the largest remaining expanses of a heath that once covered much of central southern England.
Our team at Lansdowne’s Florists believe that our skills and experience as artisanal florists make us the only choice to provide flowers and bouquets for any occasion.
