I vowed not to mention the ‘B’ word (brexit) in my blogs or to discuss politics in the shop. Once I don my florist’s apron and open the doors of the shop I’m unbiased, I’m open to everyone’s opinions and here to listen, not to comment (although I will often agree profusely), But ‘IT’ has got me thinking about what it is that makes a community, what it is that makes us feel like we belong in a place and where the boundaries to that community lie?

As the village florist I feel I’m lucky enough to sit at the heart of the community here in Pulborough. The centre is a small village but those that feel that they belong in Pulborough and feel Pulborough is their home come from far and wide. The areas which we regularly deliver to cover about 8 miles north, south, east and west and incorporate many other towns and villages which I would say were part of the Pulborough and Flower Shop community.

Followers of this blog, reach much further…I have followers in America and Australia, people I have never met, but would call friends.

Our community is made up of families, businesses, retired couples, those that are single by choice and by circumstance, young and old, from all walks of life including those that have been born and brought up in the area and those that have moved here from elsewhere, leaving other communities behind and making Pulborough their home.

So what is it?

I’ve established that ‘Community‘ doesn’t have borders, or if it does they are very elastic and that having things in common, having the same beliefs and opinions aren’t necessarily things that define a community. In fact, having a mix of people from different places, with different life experiences and differing opinions IS what makes a community.

This week the community held two annual events; The Pulborough Harvest Fair and a local Ploughing match, both celebrating life in a rural community and Estate Agents Guy Leonard held a coffee morning in aid of Macmillian Cancer Trust which was a great success.

I’d like to say the picture above is something I made and took along, but sadly we can’t all be talented at everything and I think I’ll stick to floristry.

So, the lesson we’ve learnt this week is to appreciate each others talents and to celebrate each others failings.We can’t all be brilliant at everything but together there’s little that can’t be achieved!

Floristry-wise, it’s been a week of weddings, funerals, birthdays, anniversaries and the beginnings of Christmas…more about that next week! .

If you have been inspired by my weekly ramblings and want a closer look at who we are and what we offer, here’s a link to our website , we’d love to hear from you!