4 beautiful Kent flower farms
Kent is known as the Garden of England for good reason. It is filled with hop gardens, vineyards and fruit-filled orchards due to its fertile soils. As well as this, Kent has one of the warmest climates in the UK. It has an abundance of rolling green hills, a patchwork of extensive farmland and the countryside and woodlands make for perfect scenery. Add to this, the numerous Kent Flower Farms and you’ll see why it gets its name.
Dotted around the county, these Kent flower farms provide a gorgeous summer trip out. Imagine driving down a winding countryside road and arriving to blue skies, the gentle hum of the bees, a gorgeous scent in the air and a field full of beautiful flowers. So whether you are there for a wander, to stop and have a picnic or to take home your own bouquets, you’ll find welcome relief from the stresses of the day-to-day in one of these gorgeous Kent Flower farms.
With spring in the air and summer feeling like it is just around the corner, here are my pick of the best Kent flower farms.
Little Budds Peony Farm, Thurnham
I am a big, big fan of peonies and just love peony season. So nothing pleased me more than visiting the gorgeous Little Budds Peony Farm last year. Set in the heart of the Kent countryside, you’ll find a stunning range of over 6000 peony plants. With colours ranging from deep reds to bright pinks to the palest of yellows, there are over 50 varieties of peony plants to wander in amongst.
Whilst you can’t pick your own, you can buy pre-cut bunches or potted plants for your garden. The plant that I bought last year is doing well and I can’t wait to see it flower later on in the year.
Top tip: make sure you speak to the growers for advice on how to grow your peony plant at home.
Peony season is from mid-May to mid-June. It is free to visit the farm but booking is essential. You can sign up to the mailing list to find updates on open days for 2022.
Blooming Green, Maidstone
If you’re after a therapeutic couple of hours then this flower farm cannot be beaten. I spent a very happy afternoon wandering the rows of beautiful flowers. It was extremely relaxing selecting my favourites to cut and take home. I took my mum for a birthday gift and she loved it too despite it being a slightly rainy afternoon.
I was a bit worried about how my flower arrangement would turn out but you don’t need to be an expert. My mum’s arrangement and selection was completely different to mine and it was fascinating seeing the different arrangements from other visitors to the farm. If in doubt, add lots of colour and opt for maximum foliage – well that’s what I did anyway!
We visited in late July last year and there was a huge variety of different flowers. This year I plan on going in September to take advantage of another favourite of mine, dahlias.
You can pick your own flowers for your wedding. I also think this would also be a perfect idea for a civilised hen do; the ladies next to our table were thoroughly enjoying the prosecco they had bought along!
Top tip: Wear sensible shoes, it can get muddy and the ground is a little uneven.
Blooming Green is open every Saturday from late July until late October, flowers vary by season. £25 per bucket (around 40 stems) Pre-booking is essential. Refreshments are available
Castle Farm, Sevenoaks
Being Mrs Lavender I can’t miss an opportunity to visit the stunning lavender fields at Castle Farm every year. As well as selling its lavender, Castle farm produces its own apples, apple juice, hops, dried flowers, Kentish lavender and honey. Of all the Kent Flower Farms this is the most popular with ticketed events selling out quickly. Lavender starts to bloom in late June and is harvested towards the end of July. There are three great ways that you can visit the farm this year. A 45-minute lavender walk gives you access to the most iconic lavender field where you can take in the dramatic valley views. You could also choose a guided tour which will give you unrivalled access to the running of the farm. Last year we opted for a picnic, this gives you 2 hours in one of the beautiful lavender fields to while the time away. We chose the evening session whilst the sun was setting – perfect!
Top tip: don’t forget to get a photo on one of the famous lavender benches!
Keep an eye out on the website, tickets go on sale in June, pre-booking is essential. There is a farm shop there selling lots of local produce and refreshments.
The Flower Farm Denstroude, Canterbury
Another PYO flower farm, Denstroude is the new kid on the block, starting its PYO service only last year. Based in Canterbury it has proved popular and whilst I did not get the chance to visit last year I spent lots of time lusting over the beautiful blooms on their Instagram and Facebook pages. You’ll find a range of seasonal Kent Flowers. From colourful cosmos to stunning sunflowers and delightful dahlias you will be sure to take home an arrangement that will look simply stunning. If you’re looking for an afternoon of pure relaxation mindfulness then leave yourself a Saturday free and make sure you visit Denstroude during their PYO season. If you are planning your wedding this year you could also pick you own wedding flowers as a great way to lower costs!
If you haven’t got time to pick your own or perhaps like my husband, the patience, you can buy cut bunches at a great price on selected days. Or if you fancy getting really creative, the wonderful Nancy of Box and Bloom will be hosting a floral crown making workshop. You’ll pick your own bucket full of flowers and then learn how to turn them into a gorgeous flower crown with expert advice from Nancy.
Top tip: make sure you bring your own container to take your flowers home in
Denstroude are expecting to be open from late May. For updates follow The Flower Farm Denstroude on Facebook or Instagram. Flower crown workshop Saturday 23rd July, £35pp
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