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21
Jul
Pick-your-own flower farm opens near Ripon
A new pick-your-own flower farm has opened to the public near Ripon.
Mallard Grange Farm, near Fountains Abbey in Aldfield, has been home to the Johnson family since 1933.
The farm itself has adopted a regenerative farm approach, producing grass-fed Aberdeen Angus beef, lamb, free-range eggs and lemon curd. But families and friends can now enjoy the fruits of a two-acre flower field during the summer.
The farm's pick-your-own flower field, which opened earlier this month, has 33 different varieties of wildflowers to choose from.
Owner James Johnson told the Stray Ferret the patch “changes colour week-on-week” as new flowers blossom:
We sowed the flowers, sunflowers and pumpkins in the spring.
We started with orange, yellow and white flowers, then we got purple and reds. This week, we’ve got yellow and blue!
We’ve also got an acre of multi-coloured sunflowers – not just the standard yellow – which we hope will all be out by the beginning of August.
There is even half an acre of mixed pumpkins and gourds.
Credit: William Johnson
Mr Johnson said the family decided to open the flower meadow to “get people down to the farm” and “see why our produce is so special”.
The Johnson family added the experience has been designed to be "very relaxing and offer a moment of peace and mindfulness". They said:
[It is] a great way to reconnect with nature. Listen to the gentle buzz of honey bees, soak up the incredible views and tune into the bird songs.
The flower field also offers the perfect backdrop for some incredible photo opportunities. Snap lots of lovely pictures to share on your socials.
The site itself is free to enter, but people pay for either a jar or a bucket to store their hand-picked flowers.
Then, people can cut as many flowers as they can possibly fit, Mr Johnson said.
A jar is £6.50, a medium bucket is £15, and a large bucket is £30.
After people have cut the flowers, we wrap them up and then they take them home.
We have also cut pathways in the field, so people can access the flowers without having to trample on any.
The field will become a pick-your-own pumpkin patch in the Autumn.
Mallard Grange Farm flower field is open daily, between July and September, from 10am to 4pm.
Mr Johnson said it will also open some evenings dependent on the weather. This will be announced at the time on social media, he added.
There will also be cold drinks and snacks available on-site. Dogs are welcome but must be kept on a lead.
The new venture joins Birchfield Farm, near Summerbridge, which will also offer a pick-your-own wildflower experience during the summer months.
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