Nurturing nature: Emily Talling

“Coming into The Living Space with an armful of flowers on a Monday morning is one of my highlights of the week. Almost all the flowers that I use are grown within ten minutes of the hotel.”

“Seasonal flowers always echo what’s going on outside. Daffodils and narcissi are popping up in my Watergate Bay arrangements now because that’s what you see in nature. Guests flow in and out of the hotel to the beach and around the local area, and that flow follows the flowers too.”

“Because my flowers aren’t flown halfway across the world, we retain their beauty, and we can include really interesting ingredients – things like ranunculus and Icelandic poppies that grow here in the most incredible sherbert shades.”

Grounded in Cornwall

“My flower field is just outside of Newquay, and it’s very windy and exposed. Windy nights scare me because I worry my two polytunnels might blow away.”

“Everything’s grown organically; we don’t use any chemicals on the land. The field is part of our home, and we have chickens at our smallholding. This means we do things like using eggshells mixed with apple cider vinegar to make a potent calcium solution. We spray our seedlings with it because it gives them the best start possible.”

Rolling with the rhythms

“Gardening is all about rhythms. Because I don’t use imported flowers, and I don’t heat my polytunnels, I’m very much led by what can grow in the field. We work with nature and that very much dictates what you can do when.”

Lunar sowing

“The head gardener at Tresillian House, John Harris, has written books and books about moon gardening. He’s generously taught me a bit about moon gardening too, and how it links into the cycle of the zodiac constellations and the elements.’’

Beauty in dirt

“In the evenings, when the big jobs have been done, pottering around the polytunnels doesn’t feel like work. The younger kids are playing outside, normally with the hose. It’s magical when it’s sunny, light and the field glows in the evening sun. I feel so much hope and joy, and a lot of gratitude, for the life that we have.”

At Watergate Bay

Each Monday morning Emily refreshes our floral displays in The Living Space, front desk Zacry’s, ocean wing of Swim Club and The Beach.

We wanted to work with Emily at Three Acre because, as well as her displays being beautiful, she focuses on seasonality and sustainability while making sure the flowers are as nature intended. Being in the flower field, growing flowers is where Emily is happiest, sowing and nurturing seeds and working with the environment.

Sustainability is at the heart of her business and where possible she uses flowers grown on her doorstep grown spray free. If she needs to supplement her flowers she will always use British flowers, grown either by a local grower, who grows in the way or another British supplier and grower who cares about the provenance of the flowers they sell. Her arrangements are created foam free and using sustainable and low waste methods.