There has been a florist's shop on the corner of Nightingale Road and Farncombe Street for over 60 years.

And, thanks to the vision of Kate Blackburn and her husband Pete, plus an amazing team of talented florists, that tradition is set to continue.

Nightingale Flowers is set to open in the former Abbey Flowers shop on Saturday, with a celebration and a visit from the Mayor.

Nub News popped along to talk to Kate prior to the big launch and found her hard at work in the renovated shop, with Victorian-style tiles lined up neatly on the floor in still-wet grouting, as she gave the window frames a careful lick of paint.

The team have been operating a market stall outside the shop for the last few days, giving potential customers a glimpse of what's to come and allowing passers-by to pick up a beautiful arrangement of British seasonal blooms - which will be the mainstay of Kate and Pete's new business.

"My husband and I have been doing flowers for friends' weddings and special occasions, so we wanted to take this on," she says.

"Flowers have been sold from here for a long time, and we are proud to keep up that tradition.

"We will supply British-grown flowers and foliage, poppyheads and grasses. We don't use foam, and very little cellophane, we will wrap the flowers in paper. It's a more relaxed style of floristry which is guided by what flowers are available in season.

"It's something new for Farncombe and Godalming.

"We are new to running a shop, but our florists are very experienced, and very talented."

Those florists: Kate, Kayleigh and Mollie, will make up the arrangements and displays as well as the bouquets and bunches on sale via the shop.

"Our florists are very experienced and very passionate about flowers," says Kate.

"I am really excited about it."

She isn't the only one, judging by the reception the new business is already getting from passers by: "It's been like Macdonalds," Katie laughs. "People are driving by and asking us for a bouquet and then coming back 10 minutes later to collect it!"

The business will provide floral designs and bouquets for all sorts of events, from weddings to funerals, corporate events and birthday parties. The florists will work from a different colour palette each week, using flowers in season to create beautiful bouquets and bunches for sale.

There will also be plants, plus vintage vases and glassware, and vintage furniture - just a few pieces.

"When we took out the two big counters that were in here we realised how much space we had," Kate says.

"I am planning to bring in just a few pieces at a time - a couple of tables or a chair - to sell. Vintage furniture is a hobby of mine too."

As well as putting down new Victorian-style tiling Kate and Pete have opted to keep the vintage fireplace, and will furnish the building accordingly.

"We want to be in keeping with the building," she explains, "but the flowers will be the focal point."

Nightingale Flowers will also offer a home subscription service, with blooms delivered on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis.

Kate has plans to run wreath-making workshops at Christmas, and other floral arrangement classes in the shed behind the shop.

I observe that that doesn't give her much time to get organised, but correct myself - after all the couple only took over the building last week, and already their plans are taking shape, ready to culminate in the big opening on Saturday.

You can find the Nightingale Flowers website at https://flowersatnightingale.co.uk/