A stunning lavender farm that's only a 30-minute drive from Darlington has ambitions of starting to welcome visitors after building up its reputation over the last couple of years.
Northern Lavender, based in Asenby, near Thirsk, was launched as an idea in 2021 by the owner Fergus Corrigan, before the first lavender was planted in April 2022.
In the two years that have followed, the business has gone from strength to strength after building from the ground (quite literally) up and now offers organic products, including candles, diffusers, bath and body products, as well as bunches of dried lavender.
Boasting five different varieties of lavender, Mr Corrigan grows lavender on fields in Asenby, alongside other plants that are used for confetti, and other products.
The main aim for the owner of Northern Lavender, though, is that his focus is using every part of the lavender, and making sure it's naturally and organically done.
Despite building quickly as a business, which has seen it become the largest organic lavender farm in the country, it hasn't come without its challenges.
Wet weather at the end of 2023, which continued into 2024 and into summer has meant that the planting of the lavender didn't "completely go to plan," by Mr Corrigan's own admission.
This meant that several fields were heavily flooded, which meant numerous lavender plants died because they were underwater.
While Northern Lavender managed to salvage its produce and make the most of its yield at the lavender farm, it's 2024 plans to allow visitors to come and visit had to be postponed.
Mr Corrigan now hopes that 2025 can be the year that visitors can come to Asenby and see the produce for themselves, and have an experience, including selling his products face-to-face.
He said: "We didn't manage to get the tractor in at all - which meant everything had to be done by hand.
"We had ambitions of opening the place up to the public, but sadly it wasn't to be."
Despite these challenges faced, Mr Corrigan sees an ambitious future for Northern Lavender, which could include a full shop in York, or in Asenby itself, but, for now, he hopes to expand the farm to its full potential and move into every field the company rents from the landowner.
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He added: "Because we can't bring in machinery, 100,000 lavender cuttings will have to be planted by hand, making it tough work, but it'll be worth it.
"We want to be able to welcome people, and meet the people that buy our products and have supported us."
For information about Northern Lavender, visit their website and social media page.
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