Keeping our heritage alive relies on preservation and sharing, an ethos which fits perfectly with cultural retail.
Mary Davenport of homewares brand Sophia Davenport Ltd, shares the passion for wildflowers that has inspired their family business, why it’s so important to invest in our wildflower heritage – and how you can get involved.
Appreciation of our family’s wildflower heritage began for us a few years ago with the discovery of an old cardboard dress box. This revealed a large collection of great-great-grandmother Sophia’s delicate wildflower watercolours. Having always lived in the countryside and loved wildflowers, we could not resist bringing them to life for others to share. Together with her father Richard’s 1833 ‘Flora of Oxfordshire’, they are the inspiration for the present-day designs and homeware products of our family business. Initially selling at garden and country fairs, we have evolved into a wholesale-only business.
On average, every British county is home to about 950 native species of flowers – but native wildflowers are being lost at a rate of up to one species per year, per county. Clovers, vetches, and violets are all under threat and much-loved cornfield wildflowers are diminishing, including cornflower, scarlet pimpernel and red field poppy. Our countryside is becoming less colourful and, perhaps more importantly, a less viable habitat for wildlife. The challenge presented by evolving agricultural practices, increased development, and climate change, is real.
Plantlife (the charity behind No Mow May) estimates that one third of British wild plants are of conservation concern, with 45 species critically endangered.
Eighty species are already classed as extinct – such as the downy hemp nettle (pictured right, painted by Sophia in 1902). Once very common and described as “a handsome plant” in Richard’s notes, it was last recorded here in 1975.
Raising Awareness: How You Can Help
Many Cultural Enterprises members are rising to the challenge already, protecting and restoring aspects of our wildflower heritage by planting wildflower meadows and offering educational programmes. Providing a wildflower element at your venue (where possible) can enhance visitor experience, help to increase footfall, and generate additional income. Visitors are investing in our heritage and culture just by coming to your venue – and who can’t be moved by the sight of wildflowers?
Our approach is to share Sophia’s delightful wildflower illustrations through the medium of high quality and enduring products. This means that her art lives on and, at the same time, promotes and supports wildflower conservation. Everyone can make a difference, even if in just a small way – as Dolly Parton put it, “wildflowers don’t care where they grow.”
Making it Worthwhile
As a small family business with a very personal approach, we design and develop all our products ourselves, working with British makers and materials such as English fine bone china, linen and papers. We aim to achieve the highest standards for our products, with the attention to detail that comes from personal responsibility for our work.
Choosing British makers means that we can easily visit them, not just to ensure quality, but also to develop the close working relationships that make any business a pleasure. We are proud to have achieved Made In Britain accreditation – even our textile labels are woven in Cornwall!
This comes at a price, and buying British can be expensive when compared to the global competition – but we’ve found that keeping it local and being proud of our heritage is a really positive encouragement for customers.
The latest Made in Britain survey shows that 50% of customers and nearly 60% of businesses prefer to buy UK products – and that trend is rising. Paying a bit more for British products is accepted, and our export sales to Europe and the USA indicate that they are well received elsewhere.
British and overseas visitors to cultural attractions are often looking for special mementos of their visit. Our retail partners appreciate the family story, and including our products in their gift shop enhances visitor experience.
We love sharing Sophia’s story and are delighted to be found at a variety of heritage gems including Forde Abbey, Foxglove Covert Nature Reserve, Franciscan Gardens, Knepp Wilding, Newby Hall, and Pashley Manor Gardens.
Promoting our heritage, supporting independent business, and increasing awareness of our wonderful British wildflowers – we are investing in our wildflower heritage. Will you invest in yours?
About Us
Sophia Davenport Ltd creates high quality British homeware for wholesale to discerning retailers around the world. We work closely with our makers to meet individual requirements, and we are always happy to explore options for bespoke items to suit your venue and customer base.
Please visit sophiadavenport.co.uk for more information.
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