Lavendar the plant, not the sheep!

Thanks to generous donations from Rowse Honey and the Worshipful Company of Woolmen, there are a number of lavender plants, including a prolific hedge in our Weaver Garden. The attractive herb with grey-green aromatic foliage and fragrant spikes of blue or mauve flowers is predominantly used and treasured on the Farm for its bee-friendly and fly-deterrent qualities.

As a herb, lavender has been in documented use for over 2500 years. In ancient times, lavender was used for mummification and perfume by the Egyptians, Phoenicians, and peoples of Arabia. Romans used lavender oils for bathing, cooking, and scenting the air. The unique fragrance of lavender is produced by the combination of 180 different constituents and is widely used in the perfume industry. Many of these same chemical constituents impart medicinal qualities as lavender is also widely used in herbal medicine for its soothing and relaxing properties, as well as its antimicrobial, antifungal and antibacterial activities. Lavender's many beneficial properties are why you'll find it as a major ingredient in a number of homemade products, such as balms, soaps, and satchets, in our farm shop.