A few years ago, whilst working in France, Kimberley and I went on a holiday to the Luberon Valley in the South of France. We were immediately struck by the lavender and sun flower fields. Driving down through valleys and gorges, the blues, purples and sun burst of yellows and oranges were spectacular.   

The Beautiful Hill Top Town Of Gordes In the Luberon valley .

(click on the underline words Gordes and Luberon valley for links to more information about these areas)

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Lavender Field In The Luberon Valley .

(click on the underline words, Luberon Valley for a link to more information on The Luberon Valley)

When Kimberley and I returned to live in the UK we purchased an old cottage with 9 acres of neglected orchard and scrub by the river Clyde. Rather than leave the orchard and horticultural land to get worse, we began to clear what was once a raspberry field of the over grown brambles, fruit tree suckers and gorse. The next problem was what to do with the cleared land. Initially, we thought about a low maintenance solution and seeding it with grass. Then using it as a pasture, but the idea of planting the filed with lavender to replicate what we had seen in France started to take hold. Initailly the idea was just to have an aesthetically pleasing view to look out over, but as we began our research the idea of commercially growing lavender became more of a reality. It had to be possible. Thousands of people successfully grow lavender in their gardens this far north, so why wouldn't it work on a larger scale?

Before Clearing	After Clearing And Ready To Plant

Before committing to the project 100%, a test planting was carried out. 50 Grosso and 50 Folgate were planted in May 2006. This was not, however without it problems. My initial fear was that the climate would be all wrong for lavender, but it has been the rabbits which have been a greater threat to the young plants. Before the plants took hold, each morning I had to go over the planted area and re plant the young lavender plugs which the rabbits has pulled from the soil. Once they had taken hold the rabbit problem didn't stop. They just began grazing the young plants to the ground. It was then I decided to invest in an electric fence.

Freshly Planted Grosso	Trial Planting With Electric Fence

35 Folgate and 36 Grosso plants survived and Summer 2007 saw 1700 Munstead plugs planted and a 200m of rabbet netting erected to protect them. It will take 3 years of growth and pruning before the plants are mature and in full production and in this time we plan to expand our planted area by roughly the same each year. Planting a different variety each year.


August 2007

Approximatley 1700 Munstead plants were planted in August 2007 and are now well established. Grass has been sown between the rows for both aesthetics and to suppress weeds. We even had a few flower this September.

(Taken October 2007)

(Taken June 2008)