Lavender fields open a week early after dry spring

A lavender farm will be opening a week earlier than usual following a dry spring, its director said.

Tim Hunter, 48, from Hitchin Lavender in Hertfordshire, said: "We have noticed with climate change and drier springs that the flowering season is getting earlier each year."

Mr Hunter, who took over running the farm from his father 15 years ago, said the fields would be open for the summer from Saturday.

Guy Barter, the chief horticultural adviser at the Royal Horticultural Society, said: "Mild winter, a record warm spring, drier and therefore warmer soils and especially the very high spring light levels have favoured this Mediterranean shrub, which hails from brighter, warmer drier climes."

"We are having to open a little bit earlier than normal because of the driest spring on record I believe – or at least in the last 150 years – so it has just brought the flowers on earlier," said Mr Hunter.

"It does not mean that the crop will be in any way diminished – just a little bit earlier."

In the past he has urged visitors to stop killing the farm's plants by sitting on them for social media photos.

"We just ask our customers to be respectful and mindful. You don't need to step on it to take a nice photo."

"We hope to get lots of people enjoying themselves at the farm."

Alec Hunter, 78, who started the business in 2000, said he was very proud of what they had achieved with the lavender farm.

He said his highlight was when Queen Elizabeth II visited in Hitchin in 2012, as part of her Diamond Jubilee tour, and "as she got out of the car she was totally dressed in lavender and she received a bouquet of lavender and oils".

He added: "We had a letter later saying the dress was to celebrate the north Hertfordshire lavender industry."

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