A new environmentally-friendly store has opened in Atria Watford offering dried and preserved floral arrangements.

The Botanical Bunch, owned by Jade Brogden from Watford, officially opened in the town centre shopping centre yesterday (August 5).

At the start of the pandemic Ms Brogden was furloughed from her job in sales and events and fearing the worst took a floristry course.

She said: “I could see that it was trending so quite honestly I decided to jump on the bandwagon and see if I could make some money from selling them online as I knew there was uncertainty around my job at the time.”

Watford Observer: Owner Jade BrogdenOwner Jade Brogden

In August she was made redundant so went full time with The Botanical Bunch – a move she said brought her a “huge sense of calm and a huge appreciation for something that in so many times during the rat race of life I had overlooked”.

“For this reason I wanted to make sure that with my business I was being as kind to the planet as possible, so everything we buy and use is consciously considered.”

The packaging at The Botanical Bunch is biodegradable or recycled and the materials in the shop are handmade using upcycled wood and iron.

Jade said she will also be donating 10 per cent of profits to planting trees in the UK with the Woodlands Trust “as it only seems right to attempt to replenish some of what we use”.

Watford Observer: The Botanical Bunch store front in Atria, WatfordThe Botanical Bunch store front in Atria, Watford

In March Jade was approached by Atria and offered a 12-month pop up, which despite being apprehensive about she decided to take on after encouragement from her partner.

“So here I am, hoping that my shop will bring a sense of peace and happiness to everyone that finds the time to visit,” she continued.

“I will still be selling flowers online but alongside this we will be selling in the shop seven days a week until next summer!”