Meet Ben cross | Award Winning Flower Farmer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ben cross and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ben, what’s your definition for success?
What was your thought process behind starting your own business?

I studied and worked as a Marine Biologist from 2000 – 2011. I enjoyed living around the world and having great experiences but got tired of being a bit part of a tick box exercise for big oil companies and governments. I saw the opportunity to run my families flower farm and do my bit for planet earth by growing sustainable flowers back in my hometown of Walberton here on the south coast of England in the UK,

Social impact: how does your business help the community or the world?

I am a 4th generation award winning Flower Farmer and I also promote homegrown and NOT flown blooms through my BRITISH FLOWERS ROCK movement! The movement is all about making the public aware about the carboon footprint and environmental impacts of buying imported flowers compared to local/seasonal flowers. I have given over 600 British Flowers Rock talks since I started campaigning in 2014 at garden shows, flower festivals and to clubs all over the UK.

I also work with horticultural and farming colleges and provide work placements for students at my flower farm.

Risk taking: how do you think about risk, what role has taking risks played in your life/career?

To be honest I don’t see anything as a risk! I just say yes to any and every opportunity to give me the best chance of continuing my Flower Powered journey!

If you are a parent, what do you think is the most important thing you’ve done as a parent in terms of the impact on your children? I am not a parent yet, as I would love to have little groms (kids) running around here on the flower farm!

What is the most important factor behind your success / the success of your brand?

I am not sure I am a success, but I harness my passion to keep pushing my British Flowers Rock message to as many people as I can through my in person talks, virtual zoom tours of my flower farm, podcast and YouTube guest spots, magazine and radio guest spots and via social media.

How to know whether to keep going or to give up?

As a family business starring in 1936 we have been through World Wars, Great Depressions, Brexit, Covids, The Cost of Living Crisis, and many hard times. But as farmers and growers were are very resilient and think on our feet to over come many troubled times. I will never give up with my British Flowers Rock mission!

Work life balance: how has your balance changed over time? How do you think about the balance?

When you are a flower farmer you can’t treat it like a 9-5 occupation, it is a lifestyle! I love my life and wouldn’t change it. being a Flower Farmer keeps me fit mentally and physically and I get to travel all over the UK meeting some awesome people and visiting some great places!

What makes you happy? Why?

When I first began my British Flowers Rock journey I though because I knew what was going on in the flower industry everyone knew, but the more I have given my talks the more I realise that the public need to be made aware and educated and that makes me happy i can spread the word and change peoples habits and minds to support locally grown flowers and to take notice of where their flowers come from!

Why did you pursue an artistic or creative career?

Even as a young child growing up on the flower farm as a countrybumpkin I knew I wanted to to my bit to help the planet, so becoming a marine biologist and now running a flower farm serves my purpose and fulfils my ambitions. I was never one to want money and have a 9-5 corporate job, for me educating people to live more sustainably is worth more!!

How do you define success?

If someone back in 2014 said “Ben, your British Flowers Rock movement will keep going and this is just the start” I wouldn’t have believed them! so for me it is a complete bonus and success that my message and following is growing and getting even more powerful as time goes on!

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Over 90% of flowers in the UK are imported and the environmental impact of that is mega!

So we are one of the last flower farms in the UK that produce a flower in a full colour range all year round!

We heavily focus on sustainability by heating our greenhouses with local sourced biomass fuel, solar panels and air source heat pumps for our offices.

we don’t use any pesticides or insecticides but use the practice of permaculture and bio-control to combat pests in an eco friendly way

as well as growing flowers I also run the British Flowers Rock movement which educates and makes the public aware that they should be looking out for homegrown and NOT Flown blooms!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My Flower Farm is located between the South Downs National Park and the beach!

so it would have to be mountain biking on the downs and paddle boarding on the beach, with bbqs and great seafood.

Brighton is the closest largest city and full of art galleries, live music, bars and entertainment!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My Family!!

some of my friends work in their family businesses and have very little control. I have been so lucky my parents have let me do what I feel is right at any time and that has made me more brave and confident and to learn from both negative and positive decisions and experiences.

Instagram: @alstroemeriaben

Twitter: @alstroemeriaben

Facebook: Crosslands Flower Nursery