In a year with unpredictable weather, Writtle Sunflower Farm has relied on both resilience and luck to stand out. Located just outside Writtle near Chelmsford, Essex, the farm has been in operation for over two decades and moved to its current location in 2021.
Owner Jo Pike expressed her gratitude for the vibrant bloom, despite a wet winter and spring that hindered many sunflower farms across the country. “We’re quite fortunate that we’ve managed to open,” Pike remarked, highlighting their rare success in such a challenging planting season.
A Sunflower Haven in a Unique Microclimate
Pike shared that while other farms struggled with the cold and wet conditions, their sunflowers thrived. “Lots of people found it too cold to plant their flowers this year and it was too wet, but ours have done well,” she told the BBC. The farm benefits from Writtle’s unique microclimate, with the Met Office noting the area’s warm temperatures, partly due to its sheltered position by 300ft hills. July saw Writtle record a peak temperature of 30.9°C, making it the warmest spot in East England.
A Floral Wonderland for Visitors
Writtle Sunflowers boasts an impressive array of 80,000 sunflowers spread across 1.5 hectares, roughly the size of two football pitches. During the summer holidays, Writtle Sunflowers attract between 7,000 and 8,000 visitors, offering them the chance to pick and cut their sunflowers and other wildflowers.
The farm is “peaceful and beautiful,” according to Claire Hazard of Brentwood, who visited with her 10-year-old daughter. The mother and daughter are in awe of the enormous quantity of blooms in excellent growth conditions.
In another report, Holly Bailey, 26, from Basildon, who discovered the farm through social media, said she prefers purchasing the hands-on experience over buying flowers from a garden center. The fact that you can choose what you want and customize it here is a really great idea, Bailey said.
Because of its distinct climate and the tenacity of its proprietors, Writtle Sunflowers has thrived where others have failed, providing flower enthusiasts with a colorful and engaging experience.
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