Carshalton Lavender, the award-winning heritage community project, opens its gates to the public at its 15th Open Weekend over 26th and 27th July from 10am until 4pm. This popular community harvest, and London’s only Pick Your Own event, will be held at the three acre Carshalton Lavender field at Stanley Road Allotments.
Visitors can pick their own lavender, enjoy hot food, visit stalls selling lavender related products and have aromatherapy treatments from qualified practitioners. A variety of lavender plants will be for sale along with lavender for floral, therapeutic or culinary use, or for drying for craft projects. The lavender harvest is an excellent opportunity for taking photos of friends and family in a beautiful outdoor setting. For younger visitors there will be face painting and other family activities available. It's also a great chance to make a study of bees and butterflies.
In 2009, the group was able to distil lavender oil in Carshalton for the first time in over 100 years. The Still will be in action over the weekend along with talks and demonstrations of the oil being distilled. Exclusive Carshalton Lavender essential oil and floral water will be available to buy.
In the early 1900s, blue fields of lavender could be seen all over Carshalton, Wallington, Mitcham, Waddon and Sutton. Carshalton Lavender plants are all grown from cuttings taken from the original lavender. Carshalton Lavender is run by volunteers who are keen to keep the heritage of the local lavender alive for future generations. Proceeds from this event keep the project running from year to year.
The field which is part of the Stanley Road Allotment site, is behind the Day Centre on Oaks Way SM5 4NQ. It can be reached from Stanley Park Road via Balfour Road. Take care not to confuse us with the other commercial lavender field nearby. Just use our postcode and you can’t go wrong. Limited parking, disabled space only. For a map and full details about the event visit www.carshaltonlavender.org
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