Lavender blooms again in London

Lavender fields once covered parts of south London

An area of London once known as the "lavender capital of the world" is seeing a revival of its famous blue fields.

During the 19th and early 20th Centuries fields of lavender could be seen all over Wallington, Sutton, Carshalton and Waddon.

The area helped companies such as Yardley build an international reputation in perfumery and bath luxuries.

Now the Local Lavender Project has developed a field on formerly disused allotments in Wallington and is harvesting its fourth crop.

Lavender uses

Scented bags

Floor and furniture cleaner

Disinfectant

Moth repellent

Jam, honey

Perfumery

Essential oil

Members of the public are being invited to go along and pick their own during the weekend of 27 and 28 July, and again on 3 and 4 August.

It began with cuttings collected from the public and grown in a horticulture project within nearby Downview Prison.

Later prisoners on day release helped BioRegional staff clear and plant up the two-and-a-half acres of disused allotments.

BioRegional was founded in suburban Sutton five years ago with the idea of sustainably producing local goods for local needs.

A group spokesman said lavender is in demand at the moment for beauty and health products.

Customers for the product include the local Body Shop, Covent Garden Flower Market and Sutton library, which sells bags of lavender at £1 each.

A BioRegional spokesman said that since the project began lavender has once again become part of the local identity with lavender Christmas lights and it has also appeared in local plays and parades.