Flower Pressing with JamJar Edit At Goodnestone Park

We’ve all had them. There are simply some experiences that leave you feeling refreshed, energised and creatively inspired long after you’ve left. And I can, hand on my heart, say that the Flower Pressing Workshop with JamJar Edit at Goodnestone Park was exactly that kind of day.

Flower Pressing with JamJar Edit

The day was set within the breathtaking surroundings of Goodnestone Park in Kent and offered me the rare opportunity to slow down, reconnect with nature, and immerse myself in the delicate art of flower pressing.

I was invited along by Tan Gangar, who facilitated and coordinated the day. From the moment I arrived, the atmosphere felt calm, inspiring and uplifting. The historic gardens were just starting to burst with life, and this created the perfect inspiration for my handiwork.

The workshop was led by Melissa and Roberta from JamJar Edit, whose passion for pressing flowers, leaves and pretty much anything that grows was so abundantly clear, you could help but feel inspired. Melissa and Roberta’s passion and approach felt incredibly encouraging. I’m more of a beginner when it comes to flower pressing, and I felt completely at ease all day. They were on hand to help and encourage, but didn’t dominate or overdirect.

The Workshop

The day kicked off with a lovely stroll around the gardens first thing. This is where Melissa talked us through what makes a good flower to press. During our walk around the Walled Garden, Melissa also clipped a few flowers to add to the impressive selection that was provided for us to work with.

During the morning session, we learned the fundamentals of flower pressing. This included understanding how to preserve flowers carefully over time. What could easily have been a purely technical workshop instead became something far more mindful and immersive. There is something deeply calming about handling flowers, arranging petals and stems, and taking time to notice intricate details that are so often overlooked in everyday life.

After creating a full press of beautiful flowers to take home and keep, we stopped for lunch in the Old Dairy Café. The Old Dairy Café was converted in 2017 from one of the original Estate Dairies. It’s quite a stunning place for lunch, as the careful conversion has retained the original features of the dairy.

After lunch, we headed back to the workshop, where Melissa opened a press that was a few weeks old. She then talked us through the selection of pressed flowers within it. They were simply stunning.

Roberta then went on to show us how we could take some of the pre-prepared pressings and mount them onto our own artwork pieces – our own pressings wouldn’t be ready for at least a month or so.

After the briefing, we returned to our stations where we could choose from a gorgeous selection of pressed flowers to bring our own artwork to life. It was so enjoyable, and can I say cathartic perhaps? In life, where everyone is always rushing from one thing to the next, slowing down and creating some pressed flower art is probably one of the nicest things you can do for your soul!

One of the highlights was seeing how contemporary flower pressing can become a true art form. JamJar Edit’s work beautifully bridges traditional craft and modern design, transforming fleeting seasonal flowers into lasting botanical pieces. I felt inspired by the pressed flower windows that Melissa showed us – and can’t wait to give this a go.

This workshop has completely changed the way I think about flowers. I’m going to be outside all year long, snipping parts of my garden, not just as decoration, but as something that I can press to hold a memory of the beauty that grows in my garden.

The day itself was paced perfectly, with enough guidance to feel supported while still allowing room for creativity and playfulness. It never felt rushed. Instead, it encouraged you to slow down and enjoy the process, something that feels increasingly rare.

I also loved how thoughtfully everything had been organised. From the workspace setup to the materials provided, including a beautiful flower press that can be kept and used time and time again.

Every detail during the day seemed to reflect the same love and quiet elegance that JamJar Edit is known for. Even lunch and the garden walk added to the sense that this was more than just a workshop. It was a genuinely restorative day.

I left with new skills, a flower press full of future projects, and a renewed appreciation for slow, hands-on creativity. I’d met some wonderful people and more than anything, though, I left feeling calmer and creatively recharged.

Flower Pressing with JamJar Edit

If you’re someone who loves flowers, gardening, art, interiors, or simply carving out space for mindful creativity, I can’t recommend this workshop, or any of the other ones, enough. It was thoughtful, inspiring, beautifully hosted, and genuinely memorable. It was the kind of experience that stays with you long after the flowers themselves have faded.