Lavender Field Picnic at Castle Farm

Recently I have been sulking that I'm not spending my summer in Provence. I dream of spending my days swimming in lakes, shopping at brocante markets, eating pastries for breakfast in my shuttered villa and drinking endless rose by the stone swimming pool. Cycling to the beach and staying up to watch the sunset at 10pm. Sigh. I am definitely booking a fortnight in France next July! I have heard that you can time it right to see the lavender AND sunflowers.

But the closest I can get to my Provencal dream this year is a visit to Castle Farm lavender field.

Located in Shoreham, near Sevenoaks they have the most wonderful farm which I have visited numerous times (you can read previous posts about my lavender trips here and here). It was actually a year to the day that we last visited for a lavender picnic! Tickets cost £11.25 per adult and need to be booked online in advance.

Our visit started off with a big thunderstorm which wasn't ideal! We have been in the middle of a heatwave and it was so gorgeous all day, I was really looking forward to an evening picnic but literally as soon as we arrived it just bucketed down. We sat and ate most of the food in the car as we were hungry and then thankfully it stopped raining so we headed out and had a drink at our picnic point.

Both of our white trainers were completely caked in mud, but we carried on and made the most of it.

As we were walking through the rows of lavender we noticed an unusual amount of snails! I'm not sure if the heavy rain brought them out or if they are always here but I don't think I have seen that many before! Anyway, we were very careful not to squish any.

I think also because of the rain, we didn't see any bees. I wonder where they go to avoid the rain?!

On the way home, I was yawning my head off it really does make you sleepy! I bought a fresh bunch of lavender to keep by my bedside and to continue on living my French fantasy.

*Big kudos to Mr Poachie for traipsing round the field with me confirming my hair clips were in place for the millionth time!*