A colorful flower arrangement in a glass vase placed on stacked books, with apples, kiwis, and decorative items surrounding it against a black background.
Logo for Allison Hood Flower School with a stylized flower above the text.

The Allison Hood Flower School is a dedicated floristry school. Situated on the outskirts of Belfast, the focus is on creativity, individuality and sustainability. Whether you are a professional florist looking to expand your skills or a flower enthusiast eager to explore the world of floral design, our classes and workshops offer something for everyone. Join us and discover more about the art of floristry.

White abstract flower design on black background
Colorful bouquet of mixed flowers being held, featuring roses, dahlias, and various other blossoms.

A haven for flowers and sustainability.

With its focus on creativity and individual expression, the Allison Hood Flower School offers a range of exciting and unique programmes for both the seasoned florist and enthusiastic newcomers. Whether you wish to learn about sustainable practices, explore innovative floral designs, or just enjoy the beauty of flowers, the school delivers a course to suit your requirements.

An exciting programme of floristry classes

Three women standing outdoors in front of a red brick wall and window, each holding a colorful bouquet of flowers in a green vase, all wearing black aprons.

4. Seasonal Arrangements: Workshops that focus on creating floral designs based on seasonal blooms and and locally grown materials.

5. Wedding floristry: A range of dedicated classes focusing on the techniques, skills and planning required to design exquisite wedding florals.

Choose a floristry class designed to suit individual needs, skill levels, and interests. Whether you are a busy professional, a hobbyist with specific floral goals, the Allison Hood Flower School covers a wide range of topics and skills. Here are some examples on offer:

  1. Basic Floristry Techniques: Ideal for beginners, covering essential skills like flower care, arranging basics, and using different tools.

  2. Advanced Floral Design: For more experienced florists, focusing on intricate designs, advanced techniques, and innovative styles.

  3. Sustainable Floristry: Classes that emphasise eco-friendly practices, such as using locally sourced flowers, minimising waste, and incorporating sustainable materials.

Allison Hood

With over 30 years in the industry, Allison is an award winning professional florist. With extensive experience and expertise, she is much sought after professional as can be seen from the following:

Allison wins ‘Best Use of Colour’ at Bloom 2025

As far as floral competitions go this was “A Master Class in Colour”. Allison won Best Use of Colour at the Institute of Flowers ‘Wearable Floristry Competition’, Bord Bia ‘Bloom’ June 2025.

Selected by colour psychologist and expert Adele Roche, Allison’s design was a vibrant, joyful celebration of nature’s palette. It spoke volumes without needing to shout—blending warmth, coolness, energy and softness into a perfectly balanced composition. You can read more at: https://www.instituteofflowers.com/blog/a-masterclass-in-colour-allison-hood-wins-best-use-of-colour-at-bloom-2025

A mannequin head with closed eyes, wearing a light green garment and an elaborate headpiece made of various colorful flowers and plants.

Silver-Gilt at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024

At the Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show 2024, Allison was awarded an RHS Silver-Gilt Medal in the Floral Creation Category for her exhibit ‘Nature’s Spectrum’.

The award-winning piece was a sensational example of floral design: a three-tiered column of colour – a blaze of locally grown, seasonal flowers all sourced from a sustainable grower. The design was a homage to the balance of nature, its complex relationships, and the intertwining of these elements. Within each tier, a snap-shot of the current seasonal blooms was on show.

Crowd of people inside a greenhouse with floral displays and hanging flowers.
A floral arrangement with a certificate of achievement for a floral creation, awarded at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024 to Allison Hood Flower School for Nature's Spectrum. The arrangement is a colorful display of various flowers in a wooden container.
A tall, vertical floral arrangement featuring various colorful flowers placed on large pieces of bark against a dark gray wall.
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Allison talks about the winning piece to David Maxwell on BBC Gardeners’ Corner: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001zlst?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile

A Royal Bouquet

In March 2024, Her Royal Highness Queen Camilla visited Belfast to celebrate Northern Ireland's artisan and family producers. The Queen was presented with a posy from the owners of Arcadia.

A petite spring hand tied presentation posy was created by Allison Hood. It contained locally grown scented Narcissi ‘Bridal Crown’, ‘Avalanche’ and Apple mint (Hilltop Flowers) with Muscari, Forget-me-nots, Rosemary, Skimmia, White Heather, Hebe and the first unfurling leaves of pear from Allison’s cutting garden.

All the flowers were chosen carefully to reflect Her Majesty’s love of gardening and seasonal locally grown flowers. We were told on good authority that the posy was very well received and was carried on the plane by Her Majesty.

A hand holding a vibrant mixed flower bouquet with white, yellow, purple, and pink blossoms against a plain wall.

PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo

“From start to finish, Allison’s was informative and helpful. The floral arrangement I made was beyond what I could have imagined. Above all, the classes were thoroughly enjoyable. I’ll be back”.

- J. Thompson Belfast