Island Life Magazine Ltd August/September 2006 | Page 36

Countryside

Contributor Tony Ridd

Farm with the
scent of success
The
glorious
sight
and scent of lavender
landscapes is one we tend
to associate with France
– but thanks to the vision
of two brothers, the Isle
of Wight boasts its own
thriving lavender farm.
Tony Ridd has been to
visit.
IW Lavender is one of the best
farm diversifications the Island has
seen for many years. While many
farms have diversified into selfcatering accommodation or bed
and breakfast, the Abbott brothers
decided to move into a completely
new and unknown field: growing,
harvesting and processing lavender.
I’ve known Paul and Reuben for
many years, during which time they
were cattle farmers, coppiced their
woodland and ran the successful
IW Charcoal Company. They were
the best hedge-layers around,

always winning the hedge-laying
competition, and seemed to perfect
everything they attempted. So, why
did they choose lavender?
As with most situations, it was
a culmination of events. The
farm doesn’t benefit from any
Government crop subsidies, and
shortly before Paul and Reuben’s
mother died she had been looking at
alternative medicines, particularly
dried flowers. They realised that
with the way the farm was going,
life would soon become pretty
tough and the business would not
be able to support two families. A
major change in direction had to be
considered.
When they started Isle of Wight
Lavender, there was only one other
commercial grower in the UK, based
in Norfolk. This meant that the
market was relatively young with
opportunities. At the same time,
there was also a big risk as it was
untested, and with no guarantees.
Their faith has paid off, though,
and they now have 25 acres of
lavender with between 2,500 and

3,000 plants per acre depending
on variety. Here, lavender is grown
on sand and gravel, as it doesn’t do
well on heavy clay and the French
variety doesn’t like chalky ground.
After planting, the Abbotts do not

harvest any oil from the plants for
two years, and then the commercial
stock has to be replaced within 10
years. Harvesting takes place at
the end of July, with the oil being
distilled on the farm.

It’s well worth the trip...

Time for tea – the tea rooms where you can
sample the delights of sponge cake, scones and
even tea all infused with the heady fragrance of
lavender. 

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A browser’s Heaven -  the well-stocked shop
where visitors can choose from a whole range of
lavender–inspired products

Totally natural - the huge range of potions,
fragrances and creams produced using the
lavender oil.

Island Life - www.islandlifemagazine.net