Farmer enjoys a purple patch after flowers strike gold
THE farmer behind Gower Fresh Christmas Trees and the sunflowers at Rhossili has revealed plans for his latest botanical venture.
Coming summer 2022, Robert Morgan has announced that he intends to turn both his farm as well as a field at the sunflower patch into seas of purple with lavender plants.
The lavender fields will be the latest addition to Robert’s crops, with the farmer already growing pumpkins, sunflowers and over 400,000 Christmas trees every year.
Robert said: “We had such a great response to the sunflowers down in Rhossili. People had lovely days out and it was good for people’s mental health too.
“For me, as a farmer, it was nice to see a crop of something different other than sheep, cattle and, obviously, Christmas trees. So we did the sunflowers, and then the next thing I thought was the lavender.
“I ordered the 20,000 plants, planted them last year and then we pruned it twice, and then all the fertilising and everything, then this year they will bush out and grow, and next summer we will have a field of purple lavender.”
Lavenders are certainly rich in nectar, but the most important thing about them is that they flower through the midsummer gap when bees are usually the hungriest but have fewer pickings.
Research suggests that the larger lavender cultivars are the best for bees. This is partially why Robert picked the flower.
“In the summer the bees, the pollinators down there at the sunflowers were absolutely out of this world and obviously when the lavender bloomed at the farm this year it was awash with bees and wildlife and birds.
“It’s such an important crop and the oils that come off it can be used in so many different ways.”
With lavender fields planned for both his farm in Three Crosses, as well as a field in Rhossili, Robert is planning to make the most of the beautiful landscape at both sites.
He said: “The spin-off is that we can host events in the lavender field. We have plans to host prosecco nights and live music nights – weather permitting, of course.
“It’s lovely to be able to share the farm with people and share the amazing views.”
Robert plans to have picked bunches of lavender available to buy, as well as producing bath bombs and lavender oil, all of which will be available to purchase.
Access to the fields will be similar to the sunflowers, with a small site fee being charged.
The field is expected to be in full bloom by July 2022.