Brighton florist delivers free Valentine's bouquets

Nurses, charity leaders and people going through tough times were among those to wake to a bunch of beautiful flowers from Kate Langdale.

Kate, in partnership with The Argus, offered 20 bouquets to mark Valentine's Day.

Readers were encouraged to nominate people they thought deserved them.

Kate delivered the flowers across the city (Image: Kate Langdale)

Over the last two days, Kate has been visiting people's houses to deliver the flowers, and hear more about their story.

Kate said: "It's actually been very emotional, and I wasn't prepared for that.

"I've loved hearing people's stories, and meeting all the truly inspiring and most deserving winners of our Valentine’s giveaway.

"I even had a little cry and some hugs too, when people realised how loved and appreciated they really are.

"Nobody should ever under-estimate the power of a flower."

The bouquets included roses, tulips and wild flowers, and were put together by Kate at her shop in Dyke Road near Seven Dials, Brighton.

Candice and Kate after receiving her bouquet of flowers (Image: Kate Langdale)

Candice Konig, who lives near London Road, was one of those to receive flowers for her work leading the Forward Facing charity, which helps provides activities and events for children and their families who are suffering from long-term illness.

She said: "When Kate knocked on my door, I was gobsmacked. I literally could not believe it, I thought 'she must have got the wrong flat'.

"And then she told me what it was all about, and I cried.

"Everyone has their own things going on at the moment, and the flowers made my day. 

"I know of hundreds of amazing people that do amazing things that never get recognised, and to receive the recognition yourself is heartwarming.

"It was like Kate was an angel when she turned up with the flowers."

• Read more: Florist giving away 20 free bunches of Valentine's Day flowers

Candice added: "Forward Facing brings me so much happiness, and it’s the best thing I could have ever done with my life."

The charity was founded by Candice's friend Tasleen Carstairs, initially to help those suffering with self-image issues.

In 2014, Tasleen died from an "aggressive form of cancer."

Candice said: "I made a promise to my best friend that I would take the charity forward, and I have done for eight years now."

Natasha and her daughter Ada (Image: Kate Langdale)

Natasha Britton was nominated by her daughter Ada Britton. Ada said: "My mum is very hardworking and kind. A few years ago she created a company called Parable Dance, which is a dance company for people with disabilities."

Natasha, who lives in Dyke Road, said: "I felt really thrilled, and overwhelmed by my daughter’s incredible generosity.

"They happened to be delivered on her 11th birthday, which was a lovely touch."

Parable Dance is an "inclusive dance company" set up by Natasha and her colleague Erica Moshman.

Natasha said: "We provide dance workshops to people working with learning disabilities. It’s about providing an opportunity to people that didn't previously exist.

"Dance is such an amazing way of not only expressing yourself but staying social, and I try do just this."

The free bouquet giveaway received nearly 100 entries from people across Brighton and Hove.

It came about after Jo Edwards, a lawyer from Seven Dials, donated a sum of money to Kate to deliver flowers to communities across the city after she discovered she would not be able to buy her usual bouquet of flowers this Valentine's Day.