Flower fields have become a popular attraction across the globe – Amsterdam’s Keukenhof and France’s Provence lavender fields being the most notable. But more surprising is that the UK is home to stunning flower fields of sunflowers, poppies, lavender and bluebells – all within easy reach and located locally.
Snowdrops at Painswick Rococo Gardens
Gloucestershire
Carpeted with around 5 million snowdrops, the UK’s only complete surviving rococo garden – a rococo garden is a style of garden from the late 20th-century that favours fanciful ornamentation and asymmetry – has been named by Vogue as THE place to experience the pure white and fresh green snowdrops. The best time to visit the snowdrop grove is in February. Besides the snowdrop grove and the early 1700s charm of Rococo Gardens, experience woodland walks, mesmerising Cotswold views, meandering maze, hidden valley and magical follies.
Standard adult admission: £11.60 (correct July 2023)
Snowdrops at Painswick Rococo Gardens by Cotswold Family Holidays
Delphiniums at The Real Confetti Flower Fields
Worcestershire
The confetti flower fields are one of the most exclusive flower fields in the UK, opening to the public for just 10 days between June and August before harvest! Located in the Georgian market town of Pershore is Wyke Manor Estate, whose acreage bursts into colour during Summer with Delphiniums and cornflowers.
But these delightful flowers have a bigger purpose, they’re harvested as 100% biodegradable confetti that has been sold across the UK for more than twenty years by The Real Flower Petal Confetti Company. Less than 30 minutes from the cathedral city of Worcester, the drive to the village of Wick is well signposted with ample parking available on site.
Real Confetti Flower Fields
Cotswold Lavender
Worcestershire
Cotswold Lavender is less than thirty minutes drive from the confetti flower fields mentioned above. A third-generation family farm, over 500,000 lavender plants are grown across over 90 acres to make the purest lavender essential oils shipped worldwide. Based in the famed Cotswolds, the farm grows over 40 different varieties spanning some 140 miles of rows. Since the flowers are a crop, the harvest is estimated between the last week of July and continues until early August, so the best time to visit is early-mid July. The farm also grows Camomile.
Somerset Lavender
Somerset
More than 50,000 Lavender plants of over twenty varieties of Lavender are grown across ten acres in the Lavender Field and the Lavender Garden. Join the bees and butterflies as you meander through the purple haze. The Farm is also home to a rose arbour, a healing garden packed full of useful herbs, a vegetable garden and a nursery to take home some serenity.
Flower fields: Somerset Lavender Farm by Part-Time Passport
Sunflowers at Vile, Rhossili
Swansea, Wales
While many of the UK’s sunflower farms are noted in the North, many are unaware that Swansea houses a colourful display of Sunflowers on the Welsh coast. As part of the National Trust’s 125th anniversary, which claims ownership of the site, an average of £3 million is being spent on conservation in 2020 to plant 650,000 sunflowers across 45 hectares of farmland. Aimed at improving food sources for bees, birds and butterflies, the sunflowers will bloom alongside 15 hectares of wildflower meadows, as well as a hectare of lavender.
Sunflowers in Rhossili by Wales Online
Sunflower Sundays at Cotswold Farm Park
The Cotswolds
Prior to 2020, the farm’s sunflower meadow was open to the public for free one hour every Sunday, but to implement social distancing measures a visit to the golden bloom now costs £5 per adult with a pre-booked timed slot required. In addition to the ticket, visitors can add on a 5-stem bouquet for £4 or a single stem for £1.5o too. Indoor tables can be reserved at the Rare Breed Bar for breakfast and evening meals. (Correct as of 2020, details may have changed)
It’s worth noting that access to the field is included with a booking to the Farm Park (£15 per adult).
Click here for more information
Poppies at Plock Court
Gloucester
Located in central Gloucester, Plock Court is a 26-hectare park open to the public for recreation. In 2019, it was decided that parts of the open field would be transformed into a wildflower meadow. During the UK lockdown, a stream of poppies has bloomed resulting in a beautiful sea of red.
Flower fields: Poppies at Plock Court by LPA Photography
Poppies in Didmarton
The Cotswolds
Sadly the poppy meadows at Plock Court were a little trampled in recent times, so if you’re looking for an unspoilt sea of red then head to Didmarton. The poppy field is an open field that is accessible without charge, however it is a working field so the poppies will be harvested by mid-August. The exact location is shown in the map below, it’s recommended to park on the High Street and take a little detour down the road however there was a small layby just near the field if you’re having a quick pit stop. The map points to Joyce’s Pool and the poppies are in the field to the left of the pin.
