The popular Dorset Sunflower Trail will open for its third season in summer 2023 at Maiden Castle Farm, on the outskirts of Dorchester.
Some 750,000 sunflower seeds have been planted to create two spectacular trails for visitors from far and wide. As well as the stunning Sunflower Trail, visitors can also enjoy local ice creams, rest up at the café or bring a picnic, and take home cut sunflowers or souvenirs from the Sunshine Shack.
Maiden Castle Farm has once again pledged to donate half of the proceeds from ticket sales to a local Charity. The chosen Charity this year is Dorset County Hospital’s Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU). This unit has played a very special over the years for the Hoskin Family.
The fundraising total from the previous two years stands at £37,000 with last year’s proceeds split between Ukraine’s Cherkasy Hospital and Dorset County Hospital’s Kingfisher children’s ward, which will use the money to develop outside space for the wellbeing of young patients.
Dominic Sheehy, manager of Dorset County Hospital’s SCBU, said: “We are grateful and very excited to have been chosen to be supported by this event – we have lots of plans for the unit and take great pride in providing the best possible facilities, services and care we can for our precious patients and their families.”
Following a successful collaboration last year, Dorchester Town Council will work closely with event organiser Hazel Hoskin to create a “Summer of Sunflowers” for the nearby town.
Dorchester town centre will be bursting with sunflower vibes from mid-July, with sunflower sculptures suspended high across South Street while a local artist will decorate the pavement with a temporary eco-friendly painted sunflower mural. Local retailers will also join in the fun, creating sunflower-themed shop windows across Dorchester and Poundbury, while local eateries will tempt visitors with limited edition sunflower bakes, all helping to raise money for this special local charity.
To keep with the Farm’s ethos of community engagement, children from neighbouring Prince of Wales School have also got involved by making eco-friendly bird scarers to protect the crop.
The main event will happen in August at Maiden Castle Farm itself, when the sunflower crop is fully grown and in all its glory.
“The uniqueness of this major fundraising event is that the Sunflower Trail is planted in a different field each year due to crop rotation. So if you’ve visited before then this years’ experience will be different again,” said organiser Hazel. “The Sunflower Trail created on the farm will be a highlight for many people, especially the many thousands who have visited the attraction before.,
“We are encouraging visitors to be eco-friendly and cycle to the trail, which is located on the Dorset Cycle Route 2, although the site offers free parking and is accessible to wheelchair users and pushchairs (weather permitted of course).
“We also plan to highlight the amazing positivity of the flowers on people’s well-being with Pilates and Yoga sessions available in addition to the popular sundowner sessions,” Hazel said. “This event is an amazing backdrop to make some special memories with family and friends and enjoy nature at its best.”
Opening dates and times will be confirmed at a later date.
Tickets will be held at 2022 prices and will go on Sale in July 2023. To keep updated follow us on Facebook facebook.com/MaidenCastleFarm and website www.maidencastlefarm.co.uk
2023 King Charles 50p with a Sunflower Seedling. The Hoskin Family are Duchy of Cornwall Tenants at Maiden Castle Farm
