Who we are
Who we are
Jersey Lavender is a family-run business. We grow, harvest and distil lavender to produce pure lavender oil. This lavender oil is the key ingredient in our popular range of toiletries and perfume products. Alongside lavender, we also grow and distil oils from rosemary, eucalyptus, bay laurel and cypress.
At Jersey Lavender, we aim to offer a memorable experience and a personal service in all that we do. Our family and staff are passionate what they do; they enjoy chatting to visitors, answering their questions, and take pride in their work at the farm. We are proud to take our agricultural crop from harvest and distilling right through to the creation of our wonderful products that are available to purchase in our shop.
What we do
What we do
We are a working farm but each year, over a busy nineteen-week season, we welcome thousands of visitors to the farm to immerse themselves in the wonder of what we do, allowing them to explore the lavender fields and be inspired by the lavender-distilling process. Seeing our lavender fields in full bloom is breath-taking, and we love sharing it with others. Our visitors can find out how we harvest and process the lavender, learn more about its uses, and take the time to enjoy our peaceful gardens and woodland. We run both guided and audio tours for all of our visitors to enjoy.
Our history
The story of Jersey Lavender goes back to 1983 when my parents inherited a disused dairy farm. They were too young to retire, and wanted to bring the land back to life so, after extensive research, they decided to grow lavender as an agricultural crop and to develop a business around it. St. Brelade in Jersey has free-draining and a mild climate, providing the perfect growing conditions for lavender.
The first 25,000 rooted cuttings – three different varieties of lavandula angustifolia – were lovingly planted out in the fields later that year, and Jersey Lavender was born.
The first harvest was in 1986. The essential oil was extracted in the purpose-built distillery and a small range of lavender oil-based products was developed. My parents’ aim was to undertake as much of the manufacturing, filling and packaging process at the farm as possible. This meant they could keep the production of the lavender range very local, and they could be greatly involved in the heart of the processes.
In 1987, the farm opened its doors (or field gates) to the public. The shop was originally a rustic wooden shed and it was such a success that my parents decided to build the octagonal café and shop just a couple of years later. Sprigs Shop and Café are still in this building today.
Since then, Jersey Lavender has grown, and so has our family’s passion for lavender. Over the years, additional varieties of lavender have been added to the field stock and the acreage of lavender has doubled. We have expanded our wonderful range of products and now supply numerous retail outlets on Jersey Island. We have set up a mail order business to cater for the frequent requests for products from the UK and abroad, and have launched our popular online shop.
In 2002, my parents retired so my wife, children and I made the decision to move to Jersey to take over at the farm. With a background in chemistry and in the UK fragrance industry, I felt I was well-equipped to make valuable contributions to the business. Running the farm was and still is a very productive, fulfilling way of life.