An early departure at 8.00am this morning as we left Launceston for our next overnight destination of Bicheno on the northeast coast of Tasmania (See Map). Our route this morning took us across the Northeast corner of Tasmania to the Bridestowe Lavender Estate, a lavender farm located in Nabowla (See map). The farm is believed to be the largest commercial plantation of Lavandula angustifolia in the world. Bridestowe was established in 1922 by Charles Denny, and developed by his son, Tim Denny. It is named in honour of the birthplace of Charles Denny's wife, the English town of Bridestowe.
If you are still wondering where in the world I was, here is a convenient signpost at the entrance to the farm!
The full story if the Bridestowe Estate is told in this website;
The estate began when London perfumer CK Denny migrated to Tasmania with his family in 1921, holding a packet of lavender seeds sourced from the southern French Alps.
CK Denny chose Tasmania to realise his dream of producing the world's finest lavender, recognising its similarity in climate and conditions to the famous lavender regions of Provence. The family began Bridestowe Estate with their first planting of pure lavender at North Lilydale, a short distance from Bridestowe's current farm, before moving to this site 25 years later.
You can see in my photos how the iconic curved rows (Another innovation of CK Denny) of lavender are designed to capture the sun but allow rainwater to flow down the slopes and into a reservoir. Sun improves the oil yield from the flowers but lavender doesn't like its roots in wet soil. The Dennys also moved away from hand-harvesting to automated harvesting of the flowers allowing maximum flexibility across the farm to harvest the lavender at its peak, improving oil quality and yield.
You may also be able to spot in one of the photos Guinea Fowl roaming the rows and keeping the lavender free of insects. You could hear their characteristic 'gabble, gabble' in the cool morning air.
The visit this morning reminded me of my commute home from London. I used to 'zizz' from London to Sevenoaks in Kent but awoke just before the train entered a long tunnel so that I could enjoy the magnificent site of a Lavendar farm as we exited the tunnel in the Spring and Summer. It marked a symbolic boundary between the hustle, bustle and fumes of London and arrival into the clean(er) air of Kent and home.
I rounded off an interesting visit to Bridestowe with a lavender flavoured scone!
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