Northern Lavender near Thirsk wants to welcome visitors

Planting began at Northern Lavender, in Asenby, near Thirsk, in April 2022, and in the two years that have followed, the business has gone from strength to strength.

It now offers organic products, including candles, diffusers, and toiletries made from its five different varieties, plus bunches of dried lavender. 

Fergus Corrigan owner of Northern Lavender (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Owner Fergus Corrigan said his focus is using every part of the plant using organic processes – but the growing business hasn't come without its challenges. 

Wet weather at the end of 2023, which continued into this year, meant that planting didn't "completely go to plan," as several fields were heavily flooded. 

While Northern Lavender managed to salvage its crop, plans to open up to visitors this year had to be postponed. 

Fergus Corrigan owner of Northern Lavender (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Mr Corrigan hopes that will now happen in 2025.

Regarding the bad weather, he said: "We didn't manage to get the tractor in at all, which meant everything had to be done by hand. 

"We had ambitions of opening the place up to the public, but sadly it wasn't to be."

The lavender at Northern Lavender (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Despite these challenges, Mr Corrigan sees an ambitious future for Northern Lavender, which could include a shop off-site but, for now, he hopes to expand the farm to its full potential and move into every field rented from the landowner. 

Fergus Corrigan in the wildflower field (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

He added: "Because we can't bring in machinery, 100,000 lavender cuttings will have to be planted by hand, making it tough work, but it'll be worth it. 

Fergus with a Northern Lavender greenhouse (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

"We want to be able to welcome people, and meet the people that buy our products and have supported us."

A lavender plant (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)