My story

Hi! I’m Amelia Crawford - the creator, designer, artist and everything else behind the scenes at Sylvestris Botanics.

I have always had a fascination with the natural world since I was a young child, healthily encouraged by my parents (especially my horticulturist father). I continued this passion for the wild by studying a BSc in Ecology and Conservation and continuing my studies with an MSc in Biodiversity and Conservation, with my particular interest being in plant/pollinator relationships - after all, there would be no flowers without pollination. I then worked as an environmental research scientist, before venturing into my artwork fulltime.

I fell in love with flower pressing and using natural materials for artwork in 2019 and since then have just fallen deeper and deeper in love with it. As well as preserving the beauty of nature, it is also a traditional method of learning plant identities, still used today by naturalists. There is something so special about capturing something so fleeting, like a flower in bloom, and preserving it to enjoy forever.

The very first plant that I learnt the scientific name for was cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris). Growing up we had a small woodland that was brimming with it, and some of my fondest memories are walking around the wood, with my dad and a notebook, learning plant identities. The species name sylvestris is of Latin origin meaning ‘of the forest’, and holds a special place in my heart as I always think of cow parsley when I hear it. Thus, inspiring the name Sylvestris Botanics.

All of the flowers and leaves used in my artwork are hand pressed, with the vast majority being home grown in my North Yorkshire garden. I operate on a peat, pesticide and herbicide free basis, ensuring that I grow sympathetically with the land and surrounding wildlife. Growing and picking in a sustainable and ecologically beneficial way is something that is of great importance to me and I strive to stay true to my beliefs.

Thank you all for your kindness and support, and I hope you enjoy looking around my website.

Amelia x