Florist Nichola gets on her bike for new business

WITH her pink tricycle loaded with fresh flowers and herbs, Nichola Bojczuk is bringing a breath of the continent to the streets of Cardiff.

Creative florist Nichola set up Pedal Flowers in July, combining her lifelong interest in cycling with her love of horticulture.

“I ring an old school bell so people know I am slowly coming by. I think my speed is about a mile an hour,” said Nichola, who lives in Roath and is becoming a familiar sight in city streets, peddling her locally-sourced and often unusual flowers.

“I have always been a keen cyclist and gardener, so what I do is quite fulfilling and doesn’t feel like work.

“I lived in Rome for five years, and the idea of street vending may have come from the many street sellers there.

“And when I was young, there were many hawkers on bikes and in old vans selling fruit and veg.

“In early autumn we still catch sight of French onion sellers on bikes in Cardiff, and I shall be looking out for them when they hit my patches in Roath Park, Penylan and Pontcanna.

“I now really enjoy what I’m doing; I am a very sociable person and have met so many interesting and lovely people while selling flowers.

“I get lots of positive feedback and comments about my colourful and varied displays.

“Also, I am a great believer in sustainability and my carbon footprint is very low.”

Nichola grows some of the flowers herself, and sources others locally.

She also sells herbs from an organic farm near Cowbridge, using some in her own cooking.

The trike was supplied by The Bike Shed, in Pontcanna, where director Martin Higgins is an old friend.

Martin said: “Nichola has talked about the street vending idea for years and we’re delighted to have provided her customised trike to finally get it off the ground.

“The trike takes quite a bit of skill to handle, but Nichola is a very experienced cyclist and knows what she’s doing.”