Cotswold Lavender Farm warns visitors about stormy weather

A lavender farm that has proved a hit with photographers is not extending opening hours this weekend due to forecast storms.

In summer, Cotswold Lavender Farm, near Broadway, is open to visitors - many keen to grab an Instagrammable shot.

However, staff at the site on the Gloucestershire-Worcestershire border said it would be closing at its normal time of 17:00 BST rather than 20:00.

They said forecast rain and high winds were likely to cause disruption.

"It's hard to believe that this weekend last year, we were experiencing those incredibly high temperatures," the business wrote in a post on Facebook.

Hannah Webb, the manager, said the windy weather forecast for this weekend would make it harder for people to have picnics. She said the normal closing time of 17:00 on Friday and Saturday would be in place instead of the farm staying open for a further three hours.

The farm is expected to stay open until 20:00 on 21 July.

The first lavender bushes were planted at the family-run site in 1999. As well as opening to visitors, the farm produces essential oils and other related items.

There are currently more than 35 different varieties of lavender, spread over more than 70 acres (28 hectares).

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