Kate Reich, 30, and her husband Patrick, 29, made a bold decision to trade their London flat for a 200-year-old farmhouse in Somerset, transforming it into a flourishing three-acre flower farm that now supplies florists nationwide, including those at the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show.
Their journey began after Kate was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in late 2021 — a diagnosis that challenged her to rethink her life and career. Faced with the prospect of disability by age 40, Kate realized she didn’t want to spend her days in a job she didn’t love.
“I was working in investment banking because, as a non-British passport holder, it was the only route to a work visa,” Kate explained. “But it was unfulfilling. I’d ‘live’ for the weekends, and during the week, it felt like I was just going through the motions.”
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Having met Patrick at Imperial College London in 2017, the couple had built their life in Earls Court. But after Kate’s diagnosis and a subsequent relapse, they knew it was time for a change. Patrick bought Kate a course from Floret Flowers, reigniting her passion for gardening—a love inspired by her grandmother, a landscape designer.
In autumn 2023, they moved to Somerset, purchasing a fixer-upper farmhouse with hopes of building their dream home and flower farm. Their first winter was fraught with challenges: heavy clay soil turned their fields into swamps, and strict planning permissions complicated their renovations. Despite the hurdles, the couple persevered, securing approvals and replanting an impressive 9,000 tulip bulbs along with other flowers.
The hard work paid off. By July 2024, the fields burst into vibrant bloom, marking the beginning of their floral business. Their bouquets—featuring spring bulbs, annuals, roses, and unique foliages—quickly gained attention from clients across the UK and even the Chelsea Flower Show.
Now, with their new baby girl, Kate and Patrick reflect on their journey with gratitude and a message of resilience. “We learned to never quit and to persevere,” Kate says. “Every year, we just hope the next one is a little better than the last. That’s what keeps us going—and that’s what really matters.”