Just beyond the end of the Causeway, between Abingdon and Culham, is a large field of pick-your-own Sunflowers at High Lodge Farm. Entry is free and donations can be made to Helen and Douglas House. The field is open from the August 8th for two weeks.

There is a looping track round the field, with smaller by-ways through the sunflowers for those who enjoy getting off the beaten track. Many of the sunflowers are taller than adults and dwarf children.

We followed a group of adults and children to the exit kiosk where each sunflower stem costs £1. They held armfuls of the large sunflowers. We bought £4 worth and they look ginormous on the fire grate indoors.

There were smaller wildflowers, mostly blue, which could be picked and bought by the bag-load.

The Sunflowers that don’t get picked will have a few more weeks of life in the sun before turning to seed.