Norsewood sunflowers that keep giving back

Charlotte Heald in the sunflower field on the family's Norsewood farm pictured in 2023.

Charlotte Heald loves the fact that she can grow sunflowers which help her give something back to the community.

Located just south of Norsewood, Charlotte and her family have opened up their sunflower field to the public every summer for the past two or three years.

In 2023, money raised from entry to the field went towards water safety programmes.

This year the family have opted to raise money towards a defibrillator for Norsewood village.

Heald said they had looked at some bigger charities but wanted something that was going to make a difference in their own community.

“We don’t have a 24-hour accessible community defibrillator up in the village and it was sort of something that had been mooted some time ago.”

Charlotte and her husband Russell are regenerative farmers.

“Our point of difference is around the way that we farm, so we’re probably going to showcase the regenerative farming and the fact that our crop is not just sunflowers.

“It’s a summer crop that the cows actually eat.”

They are open to having conversations with people who visit the sunflower field around the way they farm.

“And where your food comes from and food integrity and all of those sorts of things, which feels really good,” Heald said.

There would be plenty of “cool events” for people wanting to see the sunflowers, from yoga and food events, high tea, or visitors could have a picnic in the field.

Heald said they were growing a second field this year and planned to put up a tent for some “glamping” in the sunflowers.

She said people love the sunflowers.

“No one leaves without a smile.

“It’s a beautiful experience in nature and it’s really grounding.

The family often end up having a lot of conversations about the cows and how the cows get to eat the crops afterward, Heald said.

“People just love hearing that sort of thing.

“They just love learning more about that and how we farm and what happens to everything.”

Charlotte Heald with one of the visitors to the field. Sunflowers will be available for sale with some of the money raised going to help the Norsewood community.

Heald Farm Sunflowers will be open from January 18 from 10am to 5pm on selected days.

For details: https://www.facebook.com/share/14bzFN7sdL/?mibextid=LQQJ4d

There will also be flowers for sale.

Bring your sunhats and a picnic.