LAVENDER fields are coming into bloom on the Cotswolds and the first harvest is about to start.

The first lavender plants were planted by hand at Snowshill Lavender, at the family Hill Barn Farm, by partners Charles Byrd and Victoria Handcock in May 2000 in the search to find a new opportunity for the farm to survive in the increasingly difficult agricultural market. Lavender was chosen because of its suitability to the soil type and climate.

"After a search, we found a company that would buy lavender oil from us if we could grow it," Mr Byrd explained. "In the autumn of 2000 we planted 30,000 plants on seven acres. This was a great test of nerve as the winter was very wet, one of the major causes of plant losses. The following spring we planted a further 150,000 plants on 35 acres, creating a great deal of interest from passers by."

This year will see the first harvest from the lavender plants, and the partners will be distilling the lavender on the farm to extract the oil.

Apart from the lavender, a range of other crops are being trialled at Hill Barn Farm to see what else will grow there, including rosemary, sage, camomile, thyme, lemon balm, hypericum and a range of mint species.

Mr Byrd said: "The interest that we had in the crop last year prompted us to convert some of the Cotswold stone barns into a visitor centre for crafts, gifts and a tea room which opened a month ago. Interest is increasing daily as the lavender comes into flower.

He added: "Following all of the many problems in agriculture, including foot and mouth, it is very exciting to start a new project, free of European regulation, which people really want and creates so much interest."