Surround yourself in 200,000 uber stylish dahlia flowers as pick your own at Flora Fields
On-trend Dahlia flowers are all the rage – from social media to weddings and among the pristine gardens at National Trusts. And it took surrounding myself in 200,000 of them to realise why.
A sea of 200,000 dahlias creates a spectacular floral display at Webbs of Wychbold’s Flora Fields in Worcestershire.
I was at popular Webbs garden centre in leafy Worcestershire, on the edge of Birmingham in Wychbold. It has brought back its stunning Flora Fields for the third year.
Up until early October, visitors can immerse themselves in a flower field like no other. There’s over 60 varieties of Dahlias as far as the eye can see in every rainbow shade.
Yet, whereas other flower and confetti fields allow you to only pose for pictures, Flora Fields offers visitors the chance to pick their own Dahlias to take away with them as a bouquet.
There’s also a schedule of blissful sunset yoga sessions, floral masterclasses, sound baths and even a silent disco among this glorious backdrop, along with picnic options.
A giant hot air balloon makes a striking centrepiece among the colourful dahlia fields.
I found Flora Fields at the far end of Webbs’ car park, where land has been transformed into something heaven scent as the floral aroma is intoxicating. Among the rows of flowers are also installations to make the experience feel even more special and family-friendly.
A huge hot air balloon is the centre piece while further down a row of orange and pink Dahlias, I come across a beautiful floral archway and even a hot pink 1947 David Brown Cropmaster tractor.
A huge stylish teepee greets visitors, who can choose between paying to just wander and experience the beauty of the Dahlia field for £6 adults or £3 child to picking your own(PYO) options. A five stem posy ideal for children costs £7.50, 10 stems is £15, while 20 blooms is £25 of an 80 stem showstopper is £80.
Following helpful advice from the team about how to snip a Dahlia bush, I’m armed with clippers and a water bucket. I meander down the pretty rows and instantly feel relaxed. Maybe it’s sniffing in the divine scent around me or being immersed among nature at its finest, but all my worries slip away and I start to notice the detail around me.
Armed with clippers and a bucket, discovering the simple joy of picking dahlias at Flora Fields.
Bees busy pollinating, sun rays reflecting off the leaves, giggles of happy children on the other side of the acre field and even a Prosecco bottle popping in the exclusive horse box for hire.
Suddenly, I notice how different each section of Dahlias is, not just in colour but shape. There’s perfectly globed Ball Dahlias to huge, gloriously soft and floppy Waterlily and Decorative Dinnerplate varieties. Choosing which 10 blooms to select is proving harder than I thought and concentrating on what shades and types to pick becomes almost therapeutic and mindful.
This experience has come out of a place of love. It was inspired by co-owner Louise Webb’s family ritual of picking flowers with her daughter, Flora.
A young visitor picks colourful dahlias at Flora Fields.
“Flora Fields began from such a personal memory for me, picking flowers with Flora,” says Louise. “So, it’s incredibly lovely to be able to share that experience with the community and see families and friends creating special memories of their own.”
Beyond the beauty, Flora Fields is also a reminder of how British blooms can be grown and sourced locally. Sustainability-focused Webbs is keen to show how UK-grown cut flowers can offer a lower mileage alternative than imported flowers often air freighted thousands of miles into the country.
With my fresh blooms, I head back to the entrance to get them wrapped and take a break with cheese, crackers and a refreshing G&T.
Glancing around, it’s interesting how everyone else’s bouquets are completely different from mine. Everything about this experience feels unique, down to the bouquet I’ll be cherishing back at home.
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Info
Families can enjoy a range of special events and activities among the dahlias throughout the season.
Find out more about the programme of events and book tickets at https://www.webbsdirect.co.uk/florafields/
Special events include Sunset Yoga every Wednesday until September 23; Floral Masterclass on September 6, 13 and 20; Sound Bath on September 4, 11, 18 and 20 Disco in the Dahlias on September 12 and a Charity Dahlia Dig Up Day on November 1.
Flora Fields at Webbs, off Junction 5 of the M5 at Wychbold, is open into early October. For a more exclusive visit, guests can also book the private luxury Flora Fields Horsebox, with a stunning view of the field and a unique setting for birthdays, anniversaries, engagements or proposals.
