ACRES of lavender are reaching their peak at Snowshill where the finest English lavender is grown and distilled to make essential oils, grains for culinary use, sprays and gels for wellbeing and to aid sleep as well as bath soaks and hand creams.

Seventy miles of rows of the heady flower can be found at Hill Barn Farm, near Broadway, home to a third generation family farm.

Lavender was first planted here in 2000 in fields previously used to grow wheat and barley. The lavender loves the area's free draining limestone soils 1,000 feet above sea level giving the best growing conditions. More than 250,000 plants in over 35 different varieties are grown. Crops are steam distilled on the farm on the day of harvest and made into unique lavender products. None of the products have been tested on animals.

The farm and gift shop is open to visitors and groups.