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About Us

Introduction to Hartley Park Farm – Home of Lavender Fields

Welcome to Lavender Fields, at Hartley Park Farm, in the heart of the Hampshire countryside. Third generation farmers, we value our local landscape and having introduced English lavender to the farm ten years ago, our fields are now a local landmark . Set against the ancient trees of the Selborne Hanger our vibrant fields of English lavender perfectly compliment the dense, dark woodland.

We grow four varieties of English lavender in our fields:

  • Folgate (lavandula x angustifolia) with a mild aroma which produces a top quality essential lavender oil;
  • Maillette(lavandula x angustifolia) originally from France with a strong perfume, also produces high quality essential lavender oil;
  • Imperial Gem (lavandula x angustifolia) which is exclusively used for dried seed production and bunching because of its vibrant colour.
  • And finally Grosso (lavandula x intermedia) which, when distilled produces the distinctive aromatic lavandin oil.

Picking/Harvesting

We pick our lavender bunches by hand. Two of our varieties, Imperial Gem and Grosso are cut for bunching. Imperial Gem has a strong colour but is short- stemmed whereas Grosso has a delicate light blue-grey colour and long elegant stems.

We harvest our lavender during July and August but it does depend very much on the weather! The less sunshine we have, the later the harvest! Lavender is normally harvested early morning, to ensure the highest yield of oil. It is immediately taken to our distillery on the farm, as it starts to lose oil from the moment it is harvested.

Distilling

Loaded into wire baskets it is then distilled using steam. This method of distillation ensures that the oil is absolutely pure. Once distilled, the lavender oil must be left to mature before it is used as the characteristics of the oil change over time and only reach full maturity (like a fine malt whisky!) after several years.

All bottling of oils is done here on the farm as well as the drying, cleaning and packing of our lavender seeds.

Based on our own high quality essential lavender and rosemary oils, we have developed a range of light, delicately perfumed hand, body and home fragrance products.

Our aim is to capture and bring to you the essence of our lavender fields!

All of our products are made in England.

Why not take a trip out into the beautiful Hampshire countryside and visit us at our Lavender Shop on the farm? In that way you could try all of our delicately fragranced products for yourself!

Our opening times are as follows:

Tuesday - Saturday 9.30am – 5.00pm
Sunday - 10.00am - 4.00pm
Monday - Closed

 

 

We look forward to seeing you!

Tim and Anne Butler