Gardener content creator and blogger Dwayne Black visited New Covent Garden Flower Market (NCGM) on Monday May 11, describing it as ‘a wonderful cut-flower Garden of Eden’.

Above: Dwayne Black and CGMA Chair Wanda Goldwag at Flower Market wholesaler DG Wholesale Flowers Ltd.

Dwayne was filming for his channel, capturing content ahead of next week’s Chelsea Flower Show, including an interview with Covent Garden Market Authority Chair Wanda Goldwag. Touring the Flower Market, Dwayne was hugely impressed by the wide assortment of seasonal flowers, describing the experience for his viewers as ‘a treat for the senses’.

Above: Videographer Simon Black, captures footage at Flower Market plant wholesaler Ilo Bloom.

He’s come a long way since he first started gardening in his grandad’s West Midlands allotment in the 1990s – since Dwayne started sharing his gardening journey online three years ago via his social media platform, BlackinMotion, he’s grown modestly and organically, leading to bigger opportunities.

After sharing his content online, BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World show reached out to him via TikTok last year (link here), which led to Dwayne taking viewers on a tour of his garden. Describing the outdoor space as ‘a lifeline’, Dwayne explained how gardening brings him calm, peace and moments of joy when they are most needed.

Dwayne then independently applied for a media training course called BBC Creator Lab x In Bloom, in partnership with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and TikTok. “Out of 800 applicants I was one of 12 successful candidates,” said Dwayne. “They took us on a three-day retreat to learn various media skills and filming techniques, which were both fun and scary at the same time. It was a real ‘pinch-me’ moment.”

Next up for Dwayne is the Chelsea Flower Show, where he will be recording footage for both the BBC and the RHS. “It’s a privilege to be commissioned to create content for the BBC and the RHS, which will hopefully appear as part of the BBC’s live TV coverage,” said Dwayne. “It’s my first Chelsea Flower Show and I want to convey the excitement and take people on a journey with me.” He will also be covering the garden created by charity The Trussell Trust, highlighting the anti-poverty group’s work supporting a community of food banks across the country.

Despite being a relative newcomer to the Flower Market, only visiting for the first time last year, Dwayne’s already a huge advocate for Britain’s Best Wholesale Market. “Visiting New Covent Garden Market always feels like I’m stepping into the powerhouse of floristry,” he said, adding: “It’s such a treat for the senses. I’ll make sure I’m a frequent visitor in the future.”