Regular readers of the blog will by now know that I am an absolute sucker for an Instagram picture. Over the last five years or so, each summer I get green with envy seeing people down south frolic about in lavender fields and the like. To my delight, Derbyshire now has several fields of flowers that are open to visitors. Here’s my round up of the best flower fields in Derbyshire. Whether you’re looking for a sunflower field or a wildflower meadow, I’ve got you covered.
Picking your own sunflowers is a lovely family friendly day out to enjoy throughout the summer holidays. Sensible footwear advised.
UPDATE on 3rd September 2022 – to my knowledge all sunflower fields are now CLOSED FOR THE SUMMER. I will update this post next year with opening details. If you’d like to be the first to hear when the flower fields open next year, please sign up for my mailing list and check out the What’s On Derbyshire 2023 Events Guide.
However, if you are missing your flower fix, check out Frooms Dahlias in Findern where you can browse the flower beds, purchase dahlia cuttings and make your own eco vase. Snack van. Open 10am to 2pm Saturday and Sunday – likely until the end of October – see their social media for more information.
Find out about Derbyshire’s best pumpkin patches.
Flower Farms in Derbyshire
Village Sunflowers (at Village Pumpkins), Barlow near Chesterfield
Join the popular pumpkin farm in north of Derbyshire (and also very easily accessible from Sheffield) for their first PYO sunflowers event. Visit the sunflower patch featuring six different varieties, including more unusual red and burgundy sunflowers. Walk around the beautiful wildflower meadow, bursting with colour, bees and butterflies and pick your own sunflowers. There are lots of photo opportunities and farm animals to visit.
Village Sunflowers will be raising funds to support those affected by the conflict in Ukraine (since sunflowers are the national flower). Towards the end of the season, they will harvest the seeds so you can use them for baking, feeding the birds, or even have a go at growing your own sunflowers next year! Proceeds from seeds bought, and from any food bought to feed the hens, will be donated to the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal run by the Disasters Emergency Committee, helping DEC charities provide food, water, shelter and healthcare to refugees and displaced families.
Open daily from Friday 22nd July 10am-7pm. Closing time is subject to change – if the weather is glorious and lots of people want to visit for sunset, they will stay open later to ensure everyone has time to enjoy it.
Dogs welcome on leads. Note that it’s a working farm with livestock and moving machinery. Please only bring dogs who are friendly around lots of other people, other dogs and children. Please do not bring nervous, reactive or aggressive dogs as it is not fair on other dogs or visitors.
Prices: Adults £3 entry, Children £1 entry, under 5s and dogs free. Free parking and £1 per stem picked. No booking required.
Village Pumpkin’s much loved shepherd’s hut will be serving hot and cold drinks including milkshakes and cakes. See their Instagram and Facebook pages for notifications of late closings and food vendor pop ups. Toilets available.
Village Sunflowers, Johnnygate Lane, Barlow, Derbyshire (Village Pumpkins on Google Maps). Now shut for sunflowers.
Barlow Sunflowers, near Chesterfield
A beautiful sunflower field located just outside Chesterfield, with plenty of beautiful photo opportunities including a giant deckchair. This is one of the prettiest flower fields in Derbyshire, and is also very accessible.
Open 10am until sunset everyday until early to mid August (check social media for updates).
Prices: Entry is £3 per adult, under 10s free. £1 per flower.
Dogs on leads welcome.
Four Lane Ends, Barlow, Derbyshire, S41 9RS. From Newbold/Chesterfield, the field is just on the left as you drive into Barlow, turn left just after the garage. This flower field is now closed for 2022.
Ashover Family Farm, North East Derbyshire
Ashover Family Farm has become a popular place to visit for pumpkin picking in the autumn, tulips in the spring and sunflowers and a maize maze in the summer. PYO sunflowers will be open 10am to 6pm, seven days a week from Saturday 30th July.
£3 entry, children 5 years old and under are free; £1 per flower/stem. Take secateurs/cutters if you would like to pick your own sunflowers. Plenty of parking.
Refreshments available and there is a toilet. No booking required. Cash and card payments welcome. Dogs allowed but obviously clean up after your pets. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times
Eastwood Lane, Ashover, S45 0BD, 07792 775134 Now shut for sunflower picking.
Half Acre Farm, near Bolsover and Clowne
Sunday 7th August only. Booking essential.
Tickets includes access to the flower field, guided tour and 1.5 hours to enjoy the surroundings. Wander through the flower field, take photos, selfies, do some drawing… Tom and Sarah will be on hand to give advice on growing your own cut flowers at home.
There will be a ‘bouquet bar’ to allow visitors to create their own bunches of flowers, plus jam jar posy making and bug hunting for younger visitors.
Bring a picnic to enjoy in the wild flower circle, and/or help fundraise by purchasing tea, coffee and cakes during your visit (cash only). All proceeds from ticket and cake sales will be donated to local charity ‘The Kitchen’, who do marvellous work transforming food donations into affordable, nutritious home cooked meals for the local community.
Booking essential. Buy a car parking space online which includes one person’s entry and pay for additional guests on entry. Tickets £2.50 (plus booking fee).
Happy Roots Farm, near Bolsover and Clowne
Specific events only
Situated on the historic Oxcroft estate, Happy Roots Farm is a family run farm selling fresh produce and cut flowers. First generation farmers Laurenne and Gaz along with their four children have a firm focus on sustainability. They run a range of events throughout the year – see the calendar here.
26 Oxcroft Estate, Oxcroft, S80 4NA.
PYO sunflower farm flower field in the Derbyshire Dales
Pumpkin Corner, near Ashbourne
For the second year, Pumpkin Corner returns with PYO sunflowers. Andy and Meg grow everything organically. This does mean the ground can be uneven with some weeds, so sensible footwear is definitely recommended here. They are hoping to open mid-August depending on the weather – keep an eye on their social media for updates and full details.
There will be picnic benches to soak up the sunshine from the flowers and yummy refreshments to enjoy too.
Free parking within the field. Well behaved dogs welcome but please respect the field. Card payments available.
Find the new site, based between Osmaston and Wyaston, with what3words: blueberry.prickly.bounded or follow the sunflower signs from Osmaston. Now shut for sunflower picking.
Shirley Hall Sunflowers, near Ashbourne
A pretty field of sunflowers to pick your own. Plenty of photo opportunities and a wildflower meadow trail. Light refreshments available (eg teas, ice cream etc). Well behaved dogs welcome.
£3 entry, under 5s free. £1 per stem.
Shirley Hall Farm, Derby Lane, DE6 3AT or use What3Words lookout.golden.fixtures
Shirley Hall Sunflowers is closed for 2022 but is expected to reopen next year – follow them on Facebook or Instagram for updates.
Stretton Hall Farm Shop, near Clay Cross
Hopefully next year!
Last year Stretton Hall Farm Shop had a gorgeous sunflower field. Sadly the crop hasn’t done so well this year so the field won’t be open for visiting – but you will be able to buy sunflowers from their lovely farm shop. And look out for them opening in future years.
Flower farm in South Derbyshire
Pumpkin Plots, Eggington (near Burton on Trent)
Pumpkin Plots is a new pop-up venture by Laura and her family. It’s a very rustic and no-frills but offers a fun, great value time out with the family. Having started a pumpkin patch last year they enjoyed it so much, and it was so well received locally, that they’ve already branched out to a PYO sunflower patch this summer. There’s a fabulous field of sunflowers that we’re hoping will be ready to pick in the next few weeks – check their social media for details.
There’s no entrance fee and parking is free, and the sunflowers will be competitively priced. Dogs welcome on leads.
Each year the field is likely to be in a different location around Egginton, Etwall and Hilton. Head to Derby Airfield DE65 6GU. Now closed for the summer.
Where’s a good place to see wildflowers near Derby?
Kedleston Hall, near Derby
Since 2019, Kedleston has enjoyed glorious displays of wildflowers. This is part of a long term project to reawaken the character of the garden and offer interest for insects and visitors.
Open daily, 9am – 5pm. Restaurant, shop and toilets.
National Trust members free. Adults £15.40, child £7.70.
Kedleston Road, Quarndon, Derby, Derbyshire, DE22 5JH (for SatNav use DE22 5JD)
114 bus service from Derby to Ashbourne, calls at KedlestonHall summer Saturdays only, otherwise alight at the Smithy, 1 mile walk from hall.
Read more about Kedleston Hall and other great National Trust places in Derbyshire here. Looking for somewhere to eat and drink after your visit? Check out my review of The Kedleston County House.
Where else can I see a field of flowers in Derbyshire?
Wildlife Trust wildflower meadows
The Wildlife Trust manages several ancient wildflower meadows in Derbyshire. They are usually free to visit. Please do keep to paths at the end of the fields to avoid trampling flowers and wildlife. Full details here.
2 replies on “11 Flower Fields in Derbyshire to Visit”
A “bouquet bar” is such a cool idea! As I’ve got older, I’ve come to find the idea of going around nature, to flower fields and such much more appealing. When I was a kid, my parents would drag me around a garden centre and it would bore me silly as a little girl with nothing to do, which put me off places with plants/flowers. I love the idea of going now! Fab finds 🌺🌸🌼🌻
Caz x
Haha – I have similar childhood memories – but LOVE a garden centre now. I think it comes with age…