### Eight-Year-Old’s Annual Tribute Grows at Cardiff Castle’s Forever Flowers Display
Every summer, the grounds of Cardiff Castle are transformed by a vivid display of handcrafted flowers, each one representing a uniquely personal story of love, loss, and remembrance. For families across the city, this event—known as the Forever Flowers campaign—serves as a poignant tribute to friends and relatives who are no longer with us. At the heart of this touching initiative is the story of young Ffion Bullen, now eight years old, who has participated in the commemorative project every year since she was a toddler.
The Forever Flowers campaign, established in 2020 by City Hospice, offers the public an opportunity to dedicate a beautifully crafted flower to someone they have lost. The initiative not only pays tribute to departed loved ones but also raises vital funds to support the hospice’s services. Each year, over a thousand metal blooms are installed in Cardiff Castle’s gardens, creating a powerful visual tribute that resonates with visitors and participants alike.
Ffion’s connection to the campaign began when she was just three, a year after the death of her father, Carl, who passed away from cancer in 2019. During his final months, Carl was cared for by the team at City Hospice, who provided compassionate support to both him and his family. For Rebecca Bullen, Ffion’s mother, the hospice’s help extended beyond physical care—especially in preparing their young daughter for life without her father.
“The care City Hospice gave Carl in the last stage of his illness made a world of difference,” Rebecca recalls. “Their nurses not only tended to Carl’s medical needs but also gave us emotional support. When the time came to help Ffion understand her dad’s absence, the hospice’s counselling team was there for us. It was a comfort to know that their support was ongoing.” Rebecca highlights how invaluable the guidance was in helping Ffion, who was just two years old at the time, to process her father’s passing.
Since Carl’s death, both mother and daughter have found solace in continuing their connection with the charity. Each year, they purchase a Forever Flower in his memory and return to Cardiff Castle to see it among the others. Following the event, they take the flower home to keep in a special corner of their own garden—a living reminder of their love for Carl.
Now aged eight, Ffion continues to receive support from City Hospice, especially through sessions with a support worker named Sophie. Their time together often involves creative activities, such as drawing leaves. Ffion explains, “The falling leaves are memories I need to let go, while the leaves still on the tree are the feelings I want to keep.” This gentle metaphor, fostered by the hospice, helps Ffion navigate the complex emotions she experiences growing up without her father.
For Ffion, the designs of the flowers themselves have become an important part of her annual remembrance. “I love all the details in the flowers,” she says. “When I go to the Celebration of Life and hear the choir sing, it makes me feel close to Daddy. Bringing the flower home and seeing it in our garden helps me remember him.”
This year, the daffodil was chosen for the Forever Flowers display, symbolising hope, resilience, and new beginnings. Over a thousand yellow metal daffodils will grace the castle gardens from 2 to 10 August, each one representing not just a loss, but the enduring impact of the person memorialised.
The Forever Flowers display does more than commemorate the deceased; it also highlights the importance of community, remembrance and the ongoing work of local charities like City Hospice. Through their continued involvement and fundraising efforts, families like the Bullens ensure that support remains available for others facing similar journeys.
As Cardiff Castle bursts into a sea of yellow each year, these small yet powerful tokens stand as a collective memory—each flower a testament to love, hope, and the healing power of togetherness, even through the most difficult losses.