Flowers Aplenty - Visiting JW Blooms Flower Field, Somerset

One of the things that I love about Instagram is the way that it connects you with things, be it people, places or just inspiration in general. I can’t quite remember how exactly it came about that I started following Jan from JW Blooms or she started following me but it was something along the lines of one of us commented on a post about flowers, then I had a look at Jan’s profile and discovered that she owned a flower field/cut flower nursery in Somerset. 

As ‘visit as many flowery places as possible’ has been on my to-do list for the past couple of years I’m always eager to find new floral delights to explore. I book marked JW Blooms flower field and made a mental note to look up where it was at some point. And then months went by and I completely forgot about it, as often happens in life. Then when one of Jan’s pictures popped up in my field depicting idyllic scenes of pretty blooms is re-sparked my interest. A quick google later and I discovered that the flower field was actually halfway between my Mum and my Sister’s place so now there really was no excuse not to visit. It took a few trips down to see family before the timing and weather conditions all fell in to place but one mid-August day a friend and I went to investigate just what JW Blooms had to offer.

As you drive in through the entrance way and up the driveway to the flower field it feels a little like you’ve gone through a portal into a different land. There’s this sense a serenity and calm right from the moment you arrive. 

 

The site itself is quite small and we managed to walk around, albeit slowing in about forty minutes. Don’t be fooled though, there’s a lot of blooming goodness jammed in there - traditional British flowers, cottage gardens goodies and wildflowers aplenty. We were actually a little late in the season and seeing things just past there prime but there was still plenty to behold along the avenues of flower beds. 

It’s important to note that this is a working flower field and there is evidence of that scattered all about - wheel barrows and buckets, plant pots and hose pipes. But rather than detract from the beauty of the place, it gives it an extra sprinkle of ‘old worldy’ charm. In fact, one of the reasons I love visiting places like these so much is due to that feeling of being transported back in time to when things seemed simpler, even if for just an hour or two.

Now, I need to inject a little note here about the cafe. Honestly, when we first pulled up we were so distracted by the cakes on display that we almost make our way to have a refreshment break before we even began but we dug into those reserves of self control and waited until after we’d wandered around. The cakes are supplied by Dainty Bakes and should you be lucky enough to sample one you’re in for a treat! The cakes using edible flowers from the field were a very nice touch. 

I’m really glad that I finally managed to get around to visiting Jan’s flower field. It’s a charming little place which feels a bit like a well kept secret that I was privileged to experience. I reckon next years garden plans may involve sacrificing one of the raised beds to plant full of cut flowers instead of veggies and I’m sure it will be absolutely worth it!


If you’re thinking of visiting JW Blooms:

Location: Cox's Lane, Hillcommon, Somerset, TA4 1DU

Links and socials: www.jwblooms.co.uk, or Jan is at @jw_blooms on Instagram, go give her a follow

Opening times: The flower field is open to the public from March to October. The cafe is open on Sundays in the summer from 10am-4pm.

Cost: It’s free to visit but it’s worth bringing some pennies for cake and flowers ;-)

A bit more info: Bouquets (and other plants) are available to buy daily and can be made to order for weddings etc. They also run courses throughout the year on things like planning a cutting garden and making a bouquet.

In the area: Hestercombe Gardens is about 20 mins away and definitely worth a visit, it’s one of my favourite places! Both the Quantock Hills (AONB) and Blackdown hills are nearby with plenty of walking routes to enjoy. And if you’re a National Trust Member Barrington Court and Killerton House aren’t too far away either.

 

Walking on High - The Quantock Hills

Every August I take a week off around my birthday and generally head down to Somerset to spend some time with my family. It often works out well that my family work different shifts and times because there is always usually someone around to drag off an adventure with me. But on this particular Monday it ended up being just me and the pup in the morning so I decided to start my holiday week with a walk up high on the Quantock Hills.

It had rained, I mean really rained the night before so the ground was soggy underfoot and air was steamy and humid. I wasn’t entirely such, having seen the looming black clouds in the distance that I was going to make it through this foray and come out dry the other side but that didn’t deter me. I love summer rain. I think it’s the warmth of it. I just don’t seem to mind going back soggy-footed when it’s warm out.

The colours of the landscape up there were already looking very autumnal. Lots of sandy yellows in the adjoining hay fields and scorched bracken along with the berries and bright pops of heather and gorse flowers made for a lovely combination.

I had passed a family deeply immersed in the bracken picking blackberries, the kids triumphant in their efforts and as I looked closely I saw that there was a mass of berries everywhere around me. Obviously I could help but pick a few to nibble on as I passed through and let me tell you, these berries tasted goooooood! Eating blackberries can be a bit of a gamble as they often are a bit tasteless and watery but not these little pretties. These were flavour packed and yummy. Perhaps the downpour from the night before had helped plump them up, who knows. 

I was hoping to catch a glimpse of the wild Quantock Ponies but alas they evaded me on this occasion. Probably for the best seeing how beagle chops if every so inquisitive (and vocal!)

There was something utterly delightful about knowing that whilst most of the world is enveloped in their busy Monday morning that instead I was enjoying a spot of solitude and peace away from all the mayhem going on in the town below. It certainly was a good way to begin my week.

 

Hestercombe Gardens

I’ve been venturing out lately with my old Nikon D40 which is about ten years old. I was about to sell it or trade it in and put the money towards a new lens for my Canon so a couple of weeks ago I thought I’d take it out for one last spin and an unlikely thing happened. I found myself absolutely loving using it. Now, don’t get me wrong here, the quality of the photos of the D40 are nowhere near as good at my 6D but, there’s just something about using that camera that I really enjoyed. Perhaps is was the old familiarity, I mean, I did take at least 10,000 shots on that thing. Maybe it’s the slightly hazy, warmer tones it produces, or even just the quality of the photos or using a zoom lens (me and my 50mm prime have been inseparable for a couple years now). Who knows, I don’t even really need to know why, I am just enjoying using this old friend of mine again.

Sunday morning just past I took the D40 (and only the D40) along to one of my favourite spots. I was down in Somerset for the weekend visiting family and I managed to sneak a precious hour on Sunday morning to visit one of my most favouritist places - Hestercombe Gardens. 

I’ve been a member of Hestercombe for a couple of years now and I love it there. It’s a little bit like this secret place that’s always so incredibly peaceful and I’ve come to think of it as somewhat of a sanctuary for me. Even in the thick of winter when all the flowers have gone it’s still a pretty little land to wander around. But hey, we’re not quite in winter yet and so I was greeted by a most marvellous sight of golden autumn leaves through the beech woodlands. Now, anyone who’s been following me on Instagram for a while will know that I have a bit of a thing for trees, and beech trees are hands down my favourite. Wandering about under their canopies as there burnt orange leaves fell down around me reinforced that adoration even more. 

The thing about Hestercombe is that actually, it’s not really a secret place at all, in fact it’s a very well known spot and so there are generally always people around but that’s ok. One of my favourite things is watching kids run around spots like this tearing about with the sheer joy of playing in the outdoors. And there were quite a few families there doing just that on Sunday. In fact, it’s pretty rare to see someone else on their lonesome ambling around. I often feel like a bit of an outsider being there on my own but at the same time I have a sort of sense of belonging and authority when I’m there too, like I’ve got special permission to be walking about with my camera snapping away. 

I did the usual route that I do when I don’t have a great deal of time. Up the high path towards the waterfall, up the woodlands a little way, back down past the lakes (always with a “hello” to Hester the resident swam, across the lawn in from of the Orangery and then finishing with a lingering wander through the gardens. I have visited this place umpteen times now and I love that there is still always something new to see, or something to see again in a different way because the seasons have changed it. Every time I visit this place it gives me something that perhaps only someone who experiences the same thing when they visit their special place can understand. And it keeps me going back there, time and time again.

Apple Day at Barrington Court

Whenever I’m visiting family in Somerset I try to get out and explore some of the stunning countryside there and during this trip I’d decided to make the forty-five minute drive across to Barrington Court. That is the beauty of having National Trust membership, wherever you roam you can always find a pretty property to go and explore.

It was a bright and sunny Sunday morning (my favourite kind) and after a few days of darkness and rain it was a welcome shift in the weather. I drove through the Somerset countryside taking in the lovely landscape scenes around me and arrived at Barrington Court just shy of 10am. I was hoping to be one of the first there but as a I neared the entrance there were suddenly loads of cars and stewards guiding people where to park. Er…. What was going on? 

As I parked up and wandered down the drive I soon discovered that I had chosen Barrington’s famous “Apple Day” to visit. Ah… oops, this was not going to be the quiet morning I had planned then. This is why you should not only always check opening times but the events going on too! No matter, I rolled with it.

So what is Apple Day you ask? Well, it seems that as many people as possible are invited to Barrington to help collect the trees from their orchards which are then taken to the barns and pressed into juice and cider. There was music, people in traditional dress, talks, demonstrations, a whole hubbub of activity going on. 

I decided to head away from the crowds to start with and enjoy some of the other parts of the property before getting involved with the day’s festivities. I took myself towards the kitchen garden first. Now as far as kitchen gardens go the one at Barrington is epic! It’s the largest I’ve seen (so far) and it really is a wonder to behold. The amount of produce they grow there is amazing. I actually visited back in August and the bounty was awesome. And the best part? Much of what’s grown goes to the cafe and restaurant to make uber fresh, yummy food to eat. Marvellous. 

Now one thing that you are going to hear me go on about repeatedly on this blog is light. If I happen to be out exploring a pretty place on a day when there is, what I like to call “magic” light then oh, I am a happy bunny indeed. And on this morning, the light was beautiful. As I wandered through some of the grounds it was twinkling through the changing leaves on the trees and creating the most lovely sight. I could have sat there and oo-ed and ah-ed at it all day. 

It was starting to get a little busier now and as I made my way around to the lawns at the front of Barrington House there were plenty of people milling around, walking and playing and the such. The lawns are a great spot, they are big and flat and perfect for picnics and games. In fact, in the warmer weather they bring out oversized games to play. It really is begging for a crochet set! 

I didn’t actually venture into the house this day as I was a bit limited on time but I have to say that it is probably my favourite National Trust house to date for one simple reason. It’s empty. Strange I know, but these old houses are usually full of old musty smelling furniture and tapestries that simply don’t appeal to me (apologies if I cause any offence). It is so nice to walk around a place and just soak up the structure, the bones of it and only have to know the story of the house itself and not the umpteen memories of the inhabitants that have lived there and all of their trinkets. I find it quite refreshing. 

Alongside the house is the equally impressive building that now holds the restaurant. Alas, no time to stop in there either but I did take a moment to enjoy its magnificence, made extra special by a rainbow appearing in the sky behind it. Then it was on to the gardens. Oh the gardens. Back in the summer they were the most spectacular sight and even now in October there was still plenty in bloom to enjoy. The white garden is my favourite, it has an extra special, slightly enchanting feel to it but on this day it was closed off so I could only peek inside from the barrier.

I walked along towards the stables and stopped for a moment under a big Ash tree. When I came here before there were two ladies sat on the bench in this spot sketching and painting and standing there now I could clearly see why. This was a heavenly little corner. You were enclosed amongst the tall stems of the flowers and had a wall behind you but could still see lots of the gardens in front of you and it felt like it was almost a bit of a hidden, secret spot. There was a radio nearby playing what sounded like a National Trust radio station which added to the back-in-time feel. I took a moment and just enjoyed being there.

I then made my way out of the gardens, over the little stream and back towards the buildings near the entrance. Down this way there is a row of little shops with local crafts and merchants in them. From gifts and fabrics to pottery and wicker ware. Great if you’re looking for something a little bit different and a little bit special. I wandered down peeking in each one and at the end rounded the corner to where all the main Apple Day activity was happening.

In the farm yard there were loads of people enjoying demonstrations of the cider presses, seeing displays of the different varieties of apples, tasting the ciders and juices along with homemade baked goodies. This scene really was the epitome of a harvest and it was great to see the community from far and wide contributing to picking the apples and then enjoying the efforts of their labour with a hot tipple and a pie.

And so that was that, my time ran out and back to the car I headed. There really is a lot to see and enjoy at Barrington Court. If you’re not a National Trust member then the entrance fee is quite expensive but in my opinion, certainly worth it. I whizzed around in about an hour or so but I would definitely take at least an afternoon or even a whole day to see it all properly. If you’re ever in Somerset, pop it on your list, you won't be dissppointed.