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This St Helens lavender field is free to visit – and now’s the best time to see it
2 hours ago
A lavender field in St Helens is becoming one of the north west’s top free attractions – and now is the best time to see it!
The field is part of Inglenook Farm in the village of Rainford where farm director Steve Holmes says it’s grown increasingly popular.
“It’s just one of those things that you don’t see very often in the UK, and when it’s in full bloom it really looks quite spectacular,” he says.
“And the scent is amazing.”
Steve adds:
“The farm’s always busy and it’s all go from around 6am to 8pm, and you can often find me walking through with the dog when everyone else has gone home.
“And it still has that calming effect, even though I’ve been involved in lavender for years.”
Steve, 46, began cultivating essential oil crops such as lavender and chamomile at Inglenook Farm in 2008, with the aim of producing and distilling essential oils. In 2022, his partner Laura, 42, left her nine-to-five job to join him in managing the now-thriving business.
“We had a larger area of land that we harvested to make the oils to sell but because the lavender field is at the front of the farm and very visible, the farm became known locally as Lavender Farm,” he says.
“And as we developed the farm as a visitor attraction with monthly artisan craft fairs and independent shops, and the tearoom, people naturally wanted to come and see it. It’s intriguing.”
The lavender field is a one-acre site within a larger four-acre area.
“And now is about the best time to see it,” explains Steve. “The first two weeks in July are when the flowers are in full bloom.
“We used to cut it all down when the field was looking its best because that’s when you get the most oil; now we harvest around a quarter and then leave the rest for people to admire and enjoy until around the end of August. Then we harvest the rest.”
Steve cultivates English lavender and he says:
“Lavender is very soothing and calming. It has many uses but it’s very well known for its sleep inducing effects and a couple of drops of oil on a handkerchief or pillowcase is just the thing.”
Inglenook sells the 100% lavender and frankincense oil, which Steve distils from fresh tree resin imported from East Africa, in the farm shop and wholesale.
And while people are always happy to take away the oil, it’s the field which continues to have people visiting the farm from as far away as Scotland and London.
“At its height it’s not unusual to see around 150 people at one time, just walking around the field and soaking it all up.
“It’s beautiful.
“It’s the perfect backdrop and Instagram shot, and families come to take photos all the time, you can see them arrive with the children all dressed up.
“We do charge for professional photographers but we’re more than happy for people to come with their children or their dogs and take as many pictures as they wish, or just wander around and admire the view – and the smell. Some people spend hours here.”
The lavender field is free and open from 9.30am to 4.30pm, so visitors can enjoy everything else Inglenook has to offer.
The Cherry Orchard tearoom has freshly-prepared breakfasts, lunches, and afternoon teas with a selection of homemade cakes; K9 Barn is the ultimate dog care store; and there’s Hadley’s Ice Cream Parlour. The Little Green Door Company makes artificial door wreaths and floral gifts; Casa-Ancora is a lovely home décor and gift store, and the Vintage Bike Stable specialises in the restoration and sale of vintage and retro bicycles, along with service and repair.
And there lots of other events, like a classic car meet, wreath-making workshops, plus sunflower and other plant picking throughout the year at Inglenook (which is also licensed for weddings and civil ceremonies).
But it’s the lavender field that’s the star.
“It has become quite famous,” Steve smiles. “It’s a bit of a thing.”
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