This to notice an accidental visit to the new lavender farm operated by Naturally Thinking at what used to be Oak Tree Nurseries. The people at reference 2, headquartered in Croydon. We had been intending to visit Mayfield Lavender Farm, the next one along.
Proceedings started with dealing with the Wellingtonia of Epsom College, noticed at reference 1.
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Sky View
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Street View
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I then proceeded steadily east along the A2022 and stopped at the first lavender farm on the right which, as noted above, turned out to be the wrong one. But the right one, because being newly opened, there were very few people, while the other place was uncomfortably busy - with its west most field being visible top right in the first of the two snaps above. Oak Tree Nurseries is the middle of the snap and down.
It was reasonably quiet, welcoming, free and operated by the people at reference 2. It was all a bit of a mystery because it was a big place not taking in very much money, at least not on the day we visited and by the look of things not for a while. Was it really a speculation that permission to build an estate there would be forthcoming one day? Were they going to do deals with mental health and other rehabilitation service to provide a bit of occupational therapy out in the lavender fields?
In any event an interesting visit to an interesting place. We shall no doubt be back next year to see how they are getting on. Maybe, even, to pick some lavender.
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One of the lavender fields
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Several fields were given over to lavender, most of it fairly or very young. With this field having a fir plantation down one side, perhaps something to do with their Christmas Tree business, although these trees looked rather large for domestic consumption - but a sign did say that they supplied the official Banstead High Street trees.
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Derelict plums
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Derelict apples
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At one point we came across a near derelict orchard, including both plum trees and apple trees. There was talk on posters of restoration, but in my very limited experience, restoration of trees which are as far gone as these were is not worth the candle. Much quicker to grub them up and start over.
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The view down into the City of London
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We were reminded that we were on down land by the view down into the City of London from the corner of one of the lavender fields. Note also the bales thoughtfully provided for the use of picnic'ers.
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Flints
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Next we came across a pile of flints, presumably the product of stone picking therapy in years gone by.
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Heritage machinery
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One of the various bits of obsolete farm machinery scattered about the place. What would a scrap man - of which there are quite a few in our bit of Surrey - give them for it all?
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Derelict nursery one
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Derelict nursery two
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To pay our way, we bought some honey, but decided against snacking at their caravan, opting instead to head home for lunch there, pork soup, as I recall, more or less ready to go. We were amused to see that the caravan was licensed at weekends.
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Nearly new
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The last item of interest was a much newer bit of farm machinery, which looked as if it was used to plant out young plants. I might have spent a happy hour, perhaps with a glass of something, working out how it all worked, but I didn't. Lunch called.
Called in Oaks Park more or less opposite on the way out, a place with a cafeteria which we might have used, but all much too crowded. Stuck with the soup. A place tucked in between the B278 and the golf course, with gardens, woods and open space which we have visited from time to time, and which we would probably visit more often if it was not so far away. Probably lots of young families from Purley and Croydon at weekends.
PS: I think I had made the pork soup the day before, with enough being left to be warmed up for this day. Usual sort of thing: four or five ounces of pearl barley to start with, an entire pork tenderloin, plus onion, celery and cabbage. A few thinly sliced carrots tossed in near the end. A few mushrooms tossed in at the end. Perfectly acceptable lunch despite the heat. Possibly the first pork soup since February, noticed at reference 4.
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