Mr. Appleton started growing flowers on Poplar Farm ten years ago, selling his produce during the summer from a trailer at the side of the road. Eventually he established our busy all-year-round farm shop, which supplies flowers to the local community and beyond.

We provide a comprehensive florist service, with the emphasis on English outdoor flowers. Mrs Appleton is a qualified florist, and the Appleton children are also in the industry. Joe Appleton grows all the flowers at Poplar Farm, Benjamin and Nathan Appleton run a wholesale bouquet business, and Sarah and Rebecca Appleton have recently started a mobile florist shop.

Of our 35 acres, ten are used for our main crop, sunflowers. We also cultivate Sweet Rocket, Gypsophila, Cornflowers, Larkspur, Lilies, Iris, outdoor Chrysanthemums, Dill, Asters, Sweet William, Helichrysum, Calendula,

Statice, Gladioli and Wallflowers. Additionally, we grow chamomile, which is distilled in a neighbouring farm for its oil. Sunflowers Direct has been set up to continue our expansion and provide a UK delivery Service, in particular to promote out main product of sunflowers.

At Poplar farm we try to preserve wildlife as far as possible and use our maximum allowance for set aside. We have a ban on shooting and blood sports, and find alternatives for dealing with pests. As a result of our policy, we now have a selection of rare birds that regularly nest at the Farm as well as sightings of birds of prey. We have Oyster Catchers, Skylarks, Coots, Moorhens and House Martins, as well as other more common birds that attract Sparrow Hawks and Kestrels. We deal with the problem of rabbits and hares by spraying a foul tasting substance on the flowers; this doesn't harm them but discourages them from eating the crop.