INDEPENDENT OF THE MONTH
INDI E OF THE MONTH A ugusta Hop e FOR BEAUTIFUL BOUQUETS AND SHOWSTOPPING ARRANGEMENTS, LOOK NO FURTHER THAN THIS FULBOURN FLORIST
“We sometimes surprise ourselves,” laughs Gussie. “It’s very satisfying seeing it come to life – and it’s so enjoyable when the finished arrangement is presented to other people. We turn up with boxes, bits of wood, moss and scaffolding, and suddenly: it all looks lovely! We love creating and building and, luckily enough, there’s a steel fabricator in Fulbourn. They’re quite used to us having a bright idea and asking them to build something we’ve dreamed up. They always manage to pull it together somehow!” Both are also committed to doing good where they can – whether being as eco-friendly as possible in their business practices, donating event flowers to nursing homes, or volunteering their time and expertise for a good cause. This includes working with Gift of a Wedding, which donates wedding days to people suffering from terminal or life-shortening illnesses. “We did one over in Suffolk,” recalls Gussie. “That was a really nice thing to be involved in – to feel you are doing some good, as well as sending out flowers.” Looking to the future, the immediate plan is to celebrate reopening the shop, with longer-term goals including development of the teaching side of the business and spreading their wings to flower displays for national and international events. As for anybody with fantasies of quitting their desk job and opening a village flower shop, Gussie is quick to point out that the day-to-day can be less than romantic. “I think people assume we just swan around and play with flowers. The reality is that we’re covered in mud and water most of the time – and also freezing cold. It’s not as glamorous as you might think,” she grins. “There are lots of early starts and there’s lots of heavy lifting, too. But that being said, it’s a really happy and rewarding job. We spend most of our time laughing, mainly at each other – usually because one of us has fallen over or got a leg stuck in a bucket!” augustahope.co.uk
unning a flower shop on a quaint village high street, surrounded by fragrant blooms, nurturing your creative side and making people
smile all day is the stuff of daydreams for many people. Especially those stuck in uninspiring nine-to-five jobs. It’s a romantic vision, but for friends Gussie Sneddon and Claire Raper, co-owners of acclaimed florist Augusta Hope in Fulbourn, it’s a reality. The pair met when Claire attended a session at Cambridge Flower School, where Gussie was teaching at the time, striking up a friendship that blossomed into a business partnership soon after. “We chose Fulbourn for the shop because it’s located roughly in the middle for both of us, which is nice. And it’s a village where everybody actively uses the high street,” explains Gussie. “There’s a butcher, a lovely fruit-and-veg shop, a chemist, a beautician… but there wasn’t a florist, so it seemed like a good place to base ourselves. And the village has been lovely and supportive, even through lockdown, which we really appreciate.” The shop sells a wide range of cut stems and fresh seasonal flowers, specialising in creating bespoke bouquets for both individuals and events, as well as offering classes, gifts and subscriptions. “We like to be quite creative with what we do, rather than your standard bouquet,” says Claire. “Nothing too structured – we prefer a more natural look.” “We like to use seasonal flowers and lots of British, too,” adds Gussie. “I’d say we’re luxury, but not out of people’s reach. Our signature style could be described as ‘country cottagey!’” Whether for large-scale corporate events or an intimate wedding, designing and creating floral displays is something both Claire and Gussie relish. “You often have a vision, and it might come to you in the middle of the night. Then you try and recreate it and you don’t know how it’s going to go, but it’s just a case of letting your imagination run away with you,” enthuses Claire. “Creating something from nothing – that’s so rewarding.”
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