After many years working as a flying instructor I moved to Somerset. It was in 2001 and at the time of the foot and mouth epidemic. The beautiful countryside was dead. I wanted to bring some life to the disused strawberry fields which had been decimated when the local railway line (known as the strawberry line) was closed by Beeching. After some research I found that lavender would be an appropriate crop and I identified the perfect field close to our home. Unfortunately the retired brothers who owned it, and had farmed strawberries there, would not sell it - "We're farmers so we don't sell land, we only buys it". I had to wait four years for the field to come to auction and in that time I did a RHS course at the local college and lots of research. Having bought the field we set about planting lavender.

This talk covers the history of lavender, its unique properties, how we grow it and our lavender products: 'lotions and potions' such as hand cream and body lotion and our culinary products such as marmalade, strawberry jam, mustard with honey and lavender - not to mention the use of our lavender by various gin makers ! We bring samples of our products to show you and which may be purchased if you wish - but not the gin because we don't have a licence !