In 2016, sisters Sarah and Sophie Kelman took the plunge and, inspired by their love of flowers, opened Wild Forager in Freshwater. But the siblings, in the words of Sarah, “didn’t just want to be a flower shop.” Thanks to Wild Forager’s floor-to-ceiling windows and gorgeous outdoor displays, the flowers are certainly the first thing you notice, but Sarah’s background in education – she’s a former primary school teacher – means she gets almost as much of a kick from passing on her extensive knowledge.
“People want to live with nature and they want to understand why it’s so important,” explains
Sarah. “We want to inspire people to interact with nature and to create their own personal sanctuary.”
That ethos extends beyond the plants and flowers on sale, with a wide selection of carefully chosen homewares from across the globe (the “forager” side of the name). These are all ethically-sourced, with Wild Forager choosing only to partner with brands that share their passion for beauty and sustainability.
It’s a business with services from everyday bouquets to wedding arrangements and consulting; Sarah maintains Wild Forager’s priority is “trying to create beautiful, kick-arse flowers.”
Whilst that may be true, the shop packs in candles, cards, lotions, pots and more into its convenient high street location, meaning it’s easy to envisage the combinations of flora and items that best suit your home.
Sarah’s passion for her work shines through to the extent that, when asked to name her favourite flower or plant sold in the store, she runs through a catalogue of names before declaring, “Everything’s my favourite!” The fiddle leaf is the best-seller on the plant side, retailing at around $45 depending on size and, if you’re after flowers, the ‘Soft and Pretty’ bespoke bouquet is a winner. Featuring the finest blooms the season offers, it’s typically between $80-$100.
“I love the organic and natural style of floristry,” says Sarah. “The earth produces all of these things – we’re so lucky. There’s inspiration everywhere.” At Wild Forager, you can learn about flowers, furnish your home, and buy some of the Northern Beaches’ finest bouquets, all from the same location.
