This year's installation to celebrate National Plants at Work Week was an ambulance filled with plants with the sub reference of #plantstotherescue. As you'll read further on this and most of the other ideas have been the brain child of our Ambassador Ian Drummond. For the last two installations, Ian has had the valuable help of Shirley and James Smith of Botanica Nurseries Ltd. We spoke to both Ian and Shirley about working on the installations.

Ian checking the equipment

Shirley and James checking the plants

Our interview with Ian of Ian Drummond Botanical Designs

1.Your brain child, NPWW was started in 2013 (says 2014 on website), technically making this the 11th year. Where did the idea come from?

So I got idea from doing lots of event and promotional work. I had just worked on Lily Week which was a promotion where I created lots of installations and displays of lillies around London. This was supported by a large PR campaign where I was interviewed throughout the week for printed publications and a radio day. The results were amazing, gaining huge PR coverage.

So I thought this is what we need for interior landscaping! We didn't have a huge budget but it gave me a fun creative challenge! So National Plants At Work Week was born, the first promotional stunt we did was a pop-up office in the middle of the road in Central London.

 #plantsatworkweek first installation in Central London

2.Has the execution changed from what you originally planned?

I'm so happy with how it's gone. We now use a professional photographer and the press release is put out via PR Newswire giving us a potential for millions to read about the week and the benefits of plants in the workplace.

The Park bench 

 3.Is that due to input from others or just the natural way things develop?

Having some budget and also the amazing support from you guys at Plants@Work.

 4. Would you have preferred it to change in any other ways?

Budget makes a huge difference to what can be achieved so I think we should look at ways of having the week sponsored so we can then spread the word even further.

 5. What has been your favourite NPWW installation? And why?

Oh that's a difficult one to answer. I have loved designing and creating all of them, but I think the classroom might win as I was only a child when I decided I wanted to have a career in interior landscaping!

So yes - it brought back lots of memories!

School desks at The Chelsea Fringe

6. And naturally following on from that, what has been your favourite plant to work with for the various installations?

My favourite plant generally for event planting is a Vanda orchid but I think for the plants@work week installations it's probably Monstera as I have used it on many of them and it's also the office plant of the year from the best of the best!

This year's Ambulance installation at Oxford Business Park

7. Have you had any panic-filled moments while building one of the NPWW installations?

Yes - the first year we didn't have permission to be in the road ! Luckily we were never asked what we doing or moved along so ended up being there for much of the day!

Decorating a telephone kiosk as a stop-off office

8. What have the funniest moments been?

The pop up we created at St Pancras Station was a little too popular and it ended up being used for meetings and lunches which we never expected! And someone even had a nap!

The office desk outside St Pancras ...

9. If money and time were not important are there any other ways you’d have liked NPWW to have progressed?

I love the idea that throughout the week the installation could tour and be in lots of cities. Maybe we can encourage lots of plants@work members to get involved! It's been great working with the guys at Botanica Nurseries who have supplied the wonderful plants the last 2 years.

Last year's Nook Pod

10. And the future – what about the next 10 years? Is there space for NPWW to carry on or develop?

I do hope so. I think the message of the benefits of having plants in the work place and biofilic design is now understood but it's great to highlight it. Maybe the week should become international and we can work with our colleagues around the world!

 11. So finally we see you are now often referred to as the king of interior landscaping or house plant royalty! How did this come about?

Yes you're right. I think it's flattering! Unless it just means I'm old! It first happened when I was introduced on social media last year from Nurture landscapes.

It's now my 35th year in the industry (38 years if you include working after school) so I guess that's the reason! I've been lucky enough to work on some high profile projects and I still champion this amazing industry at every opportunity.

The home office during lock down

Thanks for your enthusiasm, ideas and continued support of National Plants at Work Week Ian.

Interview with Shirley Smith of Botanica Nurseries Ltd

1. Have you enjoyed being involved over the last two years?

Yes, it has been great to be involved and work with Ian on the design and set up. Botanica Nurseries Ltd have been members of plants@work, formally eFig since its conception and didn’t really get that involved with #PlantsatWorkWeek other than promoting it. We are lucky to have a nursery with a large glasshouse full of lovely interior plants so although we have to order some new plants, we can also work with large specimens that we have in stock.

James and Shirley a this year's installation

Every year we choose a new aspect of office plants we wish to celebrate, and I enjoy working as a team to get it to the photographic stage. The design evolves as we realise our vision. None of us quite know what the final outcome will look like but it always looks great.

2. Do you feel that NPWW week helps your business?

Yes. The promotion of office plants to a wider community is of huge benefit. Although many offices have plants, not all have them professionally maintained and also by having them maintained by a plants@work member means they are signed up to professional group

3. If so, how and why?

The more we get involved the more exposure we get. Our staff can chat about it to clients and try to encourage them to have more displays or add some if they don’t currently have any.

4. In what ways could it be more helpful?

I think having the photoshoot on a business park this year was a great benefit. We could talk directly to people who came out to look at what we were doing and discuss the benefit of plants for health, productivity and general wellbeing.

Shirley talking to curious visitors at the photoshoot 2023

5. How would you encourage other members to use NPWW to assist their businesses?

Share all the fantastic posts that plants@work put out on Facebook, Instagram etc. The more it is ‘out’ there, the more exposure we all get which is a benefit to the whole industry.

James and Shirley of Botanica Nurseries using last year's installation in a Nook Pod

Thanks Shirley for yours and your son James' help with the last two NPWW installations.