Keep secrets, like each other’s social media posts and never forget a pal’s birthday – that’s the modern guide to female friendship.

Nearly half of women in the UK admit their relationship with their best friend is the most important in their life, putting it above their parents (13 percent) and partner (12 percent), that’s according to new research commissioned by Bloom and Wild.

More than half (51 percent) said their best friend knows things about them that their partner doesn’t, with the average bestie knowing SEVEN secrets. Listening to relationship dramas (58 percent) and dropping everything when you’re in need (57 percent) are also important modern friendship rules.

Other things to bear in mind if you want to be a true pal include picking up the phone whenever needed (55 percent), never judging a bad decision (55 percent), always having a friend’s back (53 percent), and telling a mate when they’ve been an idiot (50 percent).

Never forgetting their birthday (49 percent) and covering for them when they’re in trouble (46 percent) were other signs of a good friendship, as was supporting a health kick (42 percent) and never posting a bad image of them on social media (25 percent).

Four in ten (46 percent) of the women polled said a true friend would never flirt with a partner, while a further one in four (25 percent) said it is imperative that your best friend brings you food when you’re sad.

Jo Reason, Brand & Range Director at Bloom & Wild, commented: “We understand that the relationship between women can be life defining and beautifully complex but the pressures of modern life – work, family, romance, self-care – can get in the way of the friendships that are fundamental to the quality of our lives.”

Ealing Times:

Whilst we know what we’re looking for in a best friend, maintaining genuine friendships can be challenging in the modern age.

The survey showed that we have an average of 159 online connections or “friends”, yet only an average of five people we truly trust in real life.

70 per cent of women agree it’s harder to make friends the older you get. Despite this, eight in ten (82 percent) agree that it doesn’t matter how many friends you have if they are good ones.

To help navigate these challenges, Bloom & Wild has partnered with The School of Life to explore how women can maintain the best possible friendships by creating a ‘Modern Guide to Female Friendship’, featuring expert tips and conversation prompts to encourage deeper connections.

Reason added: “We hope the online guide, which has been co-created to launch our new ‘Care Wildly’ collection of thoughtful gifts for ‘just because’ moments, will encourage women to connect with their besties this autumn’.

A spokesperson from The School of Life added: “Whether you’ve been friends since school or have recently become acquaintances through work, continuing to ask questions and discover things about each other will allow you to explore new avenues of your friendship together.

“The guide features thought-provoking conversation prompts for when you finally meet up for that overdue coffee, or even to reconnect with a long-distance friend via message.”

Bloom & Wild is celebrating its 10th birthday with a new ‘Care Wildly’ gift collection. To mark the launch, Bloom & Wild has partnered with The School of Life to create ‘A Modern Guide to Female Friendship’, featuring advice for friends on how to maintain meaningful connections. Find out more about the partnership at www.bloomandwild.com/a-modern-guide-to-female-friendship.