Behind the scenes at the flower farms across Suffolk

‘In a world that just seems to get busier and more stressful, the farm is somewhere you can literally stop and smell the flowers,’ says Liz Mobbs of her flower farm in Reydon. Liz Mobbs and her husband, Roger, began growing flowers from a small second-hand greenhouse at the family farm in Cratfield in 2013, selling them at the farm gate. When they sold the farm in 2017, the family moved to Southwold and Liz found the perfect four-acre plot.

‘I wanted to make it more of a destination and offer pick-your-own flowers and a shop; at the time, nobody really did this in the UK.’

The farm grows a mix of annuals and perennials, including cornflowers, larkspur, dahlias and roses. ‘We have Adnams beehives here, so we don’t put anything on the flowers that could be dangerous to the insects and wildlife. There are no air miles, it’s better for the environment and I think nicer. We let people pick what they want, we are not precious about anything.’

It’s an activity that spans the ages. Grandparents can come with parents and bring along the kids too. ‘It’s a safe environment, children can touch the plants and enjoy the freedom; it’s lovely for them to just get out and run around,’ says Liz.