St Andrew's Church Flower Arranging Team

• We work with three periods in the year between the major church festivals - Christmas to Easter to Harvest to Christmas again.

• We have three brief meetings a year, usually on a Saturday morning shortly before each festival, lasting perhaps an hour or so. This is when we plan the festival arrangments as well as the rota for the next "term". Members sign up and once the rota is in place it runs itself - if someone can't manage their day they contact one of the other members to swap.

• There are 12 members of the team at the moment which means that it's not too onerous - one generally signs up for a two-Sunday stint per term, doing one pedestal and something on the entrance table. We do two weeks per person so that the flowers they buy can be extended and not thrown out every week. There is a guide price of £25 per two-week stint, and people buy the flowers and claim back from the office with the receipt. Many people also use garden flowers to help the budget. Greenery can be picked (carefully) from the church grounds. Festival greenery is brought in separately.

• We also have quite a collection of realistic silk flowers which augment the real ones, and help spread the cost. Oasis is provided, and there is a selection of vases and containers in the flower room.

• There are one or two people who only come and help at the festival arranging when we do all the pillars as well as pedestals etc. It's a friendly occasion as we are all there together and have a break for coffee. We start at around 8.30 am and aim to finish by 11am. After the festival there is a dismantling session (arranged at the meeting) and it is helpful if perhaps five people can rally round as there's usually a lot to clear away.

• [Weddings are the responsibility of the couple getting married. The church flower team does not undertake to do wedding flowers, although some members occasionally volunteer.]

• We would love one or two more members, so that there are some people in reserve each term, to step in if necessary. Beginners are welcome and would probably learn alongside a more experienced member.