Early morning shift change at Superflora on Washway Road, Fleet Hargate, Lincolnshire. The company which supplies flowers in bulk to supermarkets and wholesalers around the UK is a major employer in the area and part of the Dutch Flower Group, a significant player in the global floriculture industry.

The Dutch played a foundational role in shaping the flower trade in South Lincolnshire, particularly through their expertise in land reclamation.

In the 17th century, Dutch engineer Cornelius Vermuyden led drainage projects in the Fens, transforming the marshy expanse into fertile land with silt soils. This reclamation, continued by figures like Philibert Vernatti, created the conditions for agriculture, including flower growing, by providing well-drained, nutrient-rich ground ideal for bulbs like tulips.

The Dutch model of fenland management didn’t just alter the landscape—it brought a mindset of precision agriculture to Britain. By the late 19th century, their influence deepened as farmers  across the country looked to the Netherlands’ thriving bulb trade for inspiration.

The introduction of the Darwin Tulip around 1890, a Dutch-bred variety prized as a cut flower, spurred  experimentation with forcing bulbs under glass—a technique borrowed from Holland's growers. The Fens emerged as a rival to Holland, with its bulb production peaking in the early 20th century, when over a third of Britain’s bulbs came from the area.