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Lavender farm becomes haven for old schoolfriends

Joan Cumminsin Bubbenhall
News imageBBC A man in a navy polo shirt with a yellow round logo with heart shape stands in front of a field of lavender. He is wearing a navy cap with the same circular logo.BBC
Ian Jamie began growing lavender as a "retirement hobby"

A lavender farm that started life as a "retirement hobby" to provide foraging for a man's bees has become a haven for a group of his friends.

The Warwickshire Lavender farm, in Bubbenhall, was planted by Ian Jamie and his five old schoolfriends in 2019, with the hope of producing some lavender honey and a bit of money for charity.

The men, who call themselves "the Lav Boys", now meet once a week at the Watery Lane site, which opens its fields to the public during the summer months, and say their friendship is thriving.

"It's like a form of therapy really," said John Nichols. "You sit out in the fields chattering away with your mates, chatting utter, utter, utter nonsense, and loving it."

Jamie described himself as "a slightly eccentric person".

"I don't know why I try these things, but I do," he said.

News imageA group of men sit at a wooden picnic bench on grass, with a field of lavender behind. They are all wearing navy T-shirts and baseball caps and have paper cups front of them as they talk.
The friends, who call themselves the Lav Boys, planted the fields by hand

Steve Sutherland, another Lav Boy, called Jamie a "fantastic leader".

"He gives us a direction, we go out there and ignore him completely and do something different, but we all have a fantastic time," he joked.

News imageA man in a navy polo shirt and cap smiles in a field. He has a white beard and white hair. Just his head and shoulders can be seen.
John Nichols said meeting up with his old schoolmates and working on the lavender farm was like "therapy"

The men have planted eight acres by hand, with at least 20,000 plants boasting three varieties of lavender.

They keep the weeds at bay by meeting once a week in all weathers, and have helped each other through life's trials, including a prostate cancer diagnosis.

"If you do have a problem it's to be shared, and then they take the mick, and we're alright," said Martin Clifford.

News imageAn orange and yellow butterfly forages on purple long stemmed lavender plants in a field.
Visitors to the site have raised more than £40,000 for charity over the years

The farm has raised more than £40,000 for Parkinsons UK and Huntingtons Disease through profits from an onsite cafe, which opens when the lavender is out, and then on Saturdays year round from the last week in September.

"We don't get anything much financially from this. But that's not the point of it," Jamie said.

"The point is to meet, share our stories, chat and raise some money for charity and see something beautiful."

Farm visitors have described snapping beautiful pictures and finding peace among the fragrant blooms.

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