Since I became pregnant with my first child, I have been equally interested in and fascinated by the sacred and medicinal purposes of essential oils. Delving into the healing properties of plants ignited my interest in understanding both the methods of extraction and the rich history of their use, which continues to this day. This summer, when Cotswold Lavender opened their fields for visitors, I decided to go, and what started as a day out with my children quickly became an educational trip.
Cotswold Lavender opens each year just outside the village of Snowshill near Broadway in Worcestershire. The family farm has been growing 35 different varieties of lavender, covering approximately 45 acres, for the last 25 years. The farm features 250,000 plants growing in rows that you can explore. At nearly 1,000 feet above sea level, lavender thrives here due to the ideal climate and the well-draining limestone soil. When you arrive, you can smell that you are in the correct place before you see it. As you walk up the path to the entrance, waving symbolic flags of purple, you are immediately welcomed by the strong fragrance of lavender. The fields encompass over 60 miles of the plant, laid out in rows that extend beyond the horizon. As my children turned the rows into runways, I couldn’t help but notice the abundance of nature and what a sanctuary the farm was offering local wildlife. Information boards identify local wildlife, reminding visitors to protect the biodiversity of insects and small mammals. Peacock butterflies, bees, spiders and even a hummingbird travel between each species and makes you feel like you are in a scene with Madame Monet and her parasol or a Beatrix Potter illustration.
The shop clearly demonstrates the range of uses for lavender, from ointments to ice cream (a unique flavour, for sure), showcasing how varied lavender use has been throughout history. You can visit the distillery to watch and learn about the process of making the oil, which combines ancient techniques with modern science. The Ancient Egyptians were among the first to use the method of extraction by utilising steam from naturally softened rainwater, allowing them to use the oil in their cosmetics and embalming processes. The chemical-free process utilises steam to separate the flower from the oil, which is then aged for a year before being used. Learning this, I wondered how old lavender really is and how the Mediterranean plant became a symbol of the English countryside. I was shocked to discover that it has been recognised since the beginning of recorded civilisation.
After being collected from the wild in the Mediterranean region, lavender was later grown, cultivated and domesticated in Arabia. Throughout history, it has become a valuable resource due to its healing, antiseptic, and, of course, olfactory qualities. It was documented by the Greek physician Dioscorides and used in Roman communal baths for its laxative and invigorating properties. It is believed that Roman traders first introduced lavender to Britain approximately 2,000 years ago, promising its anti-inflammatory and purifying properties, which were said to aid in wound healing. Once the Roman Empire fell, it was extensively cultivated by Italian monks in monasteries as part of a conscious resource management technique to maintain its availability, learn about its virtues, and understand how it could be used as a key element in traditional herbal medicines. This practice is still used in parts of Italy and beyond today, treating insomnia and hair loss, relieving anxiety and headaches, and preventing depression and nausea.
During the medieval period, the fragrant herb was grown as part of physic gardens; it was deeply rooted with cultural significance and valued by Christian mystics and natural philosophers for its calming and protective properties. British folklore tells us that lavender was worn on wrists, around necks, and hung in crosses on doors during this time to protect against the plague and cholera, to ward off evil spirits, and later, tuberculosis and malaria.
By the time of the Renaissance, lavender was regarded as a mercurial herb, associated with communication, healing, and love. It was during this time that it was used to help improve focus, as much as for rituals and spiritual insight, creating sacred spaces and restoring balance in the mind. Queen Elizabeth I developed a deep affection for lavender, demanding that the flower be available year-round and that her floors and linens be scented with it. She also requested lavender conserve over mint jelly when dining and wore the oil as perfume. Like many royals, she also used it medicinally in her tea to treat migraines. It comes as no surprise that lavender has a calming effect on our nervous systems due to its powerful anxiolytic oil that the Queen was so fond of. The ever-evolving use of the plant led to its support for farm development, which increased its popularity and, to answer my question, made it a cherished part of English culture. Queen Victoria continued to use lavender, and by this time, it was associated with purity, silence, devotion, caution, grace, and serenity. Meanwhile, storytellers linked lavender with attracting fairies and enhancing clairvoyance, identifying the plant with mystery and magic. More recently, a psycho-spiritual connection has been made. Energy healers utilise it to foster a sense of divine connection and as a meditation aid to expand their awareness. It is also still used as a ritual offering to deities of purity and love, particularly Aphrodite.
Today, lavender remains important in folklore, literature, art, and poetry from around the world. It is mentioned in Shakespeare's The Winter’s Tale as a symbol of maturity, when Perdita distributes flowers to symbolise different ages and qualities of life. William Brightly Rands describes how ‘the fairies stepped out of the lavender beds’ in his whimsical scene. The waxy, green-grey leaves and corolla of purple are distinctly identifiable, as are the rolling hills and honey-coloured limestone of the Cotswolds. So, if you can, I recommend a visit. Look out for the purple flags and follow the scent, and you'll find your way to where this ancient plant is grown in abundance, and where the ‘fairy folk’ still hide.
