Being a florist was always my dream but I would never have taken the leap before
Employment specialists on why so many of us have changed lanes as broadcaster reveals it’s blooming marvellous
For Theresa Talbot, the garden has always been a sanctuary, the soft mud underfoot and green surroundings providing a tranquil release from everyday life. So, when lockdown hit and her working week was turned upside down, there was only one place to go.
“I felt very isolated during lockdown but being outside with plants and flowers and seeing nature really helped to keep me grounded and calm,” she said.
The author and broadcaster – a familiar voice detailing the latest travel news on Radio Scotland – said her freelance work went almost overnight because of lockdown, as did income from literary events.
“I had no furlough payment and no help from the government. I was just one of those people who slipped through the net. I had to think about what else I could do. So, off I went into the garden.”
Having attended college to train as a garden designer some 15 years ago, all those hours spent knee-deep in mud made Talbot consider what might be next for her career, and she began devising a way to use her skills to grow a new business.
“I kept thinking, ‘OK maybe next week or next month I’ll be back broadcasting’ but my husband suggested I think of a plan B, just in case,” she said, laughing. “I knew so many people had taken a greater interest in their garden over lockdown, too, so I thought there might be an opportunity to start a company.
“With more time on my hands, and my husband working from home and needing a little space, I spent most of lockdown in the garden.
“When my husband was finished with work for the day, I would ask him to do all the heavier stuff – dig that hole, chop down that tree – and together we ripped the whole garden apart and replanted it.
“We transformed the garden quite quickly, and I wondered whether I could help other people, perhaps a little daunted by the process, to do the same.
“I put a shout-out on social media asking whether people would be interested in me coming along, chatting about what they want from their garden, and putting together a shopping list. And the response was like a tsunami!
“I really had to dive in head-first because there was so much demand.”
The result of Talbot’s graft in the garden was Willow & Herb, a bespoke garden consultancy service that helps homeowners plan, plot and plant the perfect garden, which she launched in July last year.
After so much demand during the summer months, Talbot then decided to add another branch to her business, offering boutique flower arrangements, too – a prospect that, she admitted, was a dream come true. She explained: “I had always wanted to start a floristry business ever since I went to college,
but the time was never right and I couldn’t afford to take the hit and leave my job. So, when lockdown happened, the opportunity was thrust upon me and I ended up loving it.
“My business was born out of necessity, but being a florist was always a dream. I couldn’t have taken that leap before lockdown, even though the hankering was at the back of my mind. It’s still very much early days, but I’ve learned so much already.
“I didn’t for a minute think anyone would be interested but so many people, customers and other florists have been supportive.”
And, although using her green thumb might seem a million miles away from her career as a broadcaster, podcast host, and author of three books, her jobs have more in common than you might think.
“The amount of work involved is more than people might think, starting with a 5am run to the flower market – although all those early-morning radio traffic shifts have stood me in good stead,” she added with a laugh. “Plus, I’ve been self-employed for 25 years so working for myself is second nature now.”
As normal life slowly returns, Talbot now hopes to combine all her passions, and has even had a floral studio built in her beloved garden.
“People often say to me now, ‘Oh that’s such a completely different career change’,” she admitted. “But I’ve always loved gardening and it really saved my sanity in lockdown.
“I’ve always worked different jobs part-time, podcasting a few days a week, broadcasting another few, and writing in between.
“So, I’ll be able to work on my garden and flowers, and write my new book in between. My home office is only 20ft from the garden flower studio, so it’ll be easy to keep everything going at once!”