Go back 500 years, and no one in the Old World knew what a dahlia was. It’s been almost 300 years since this native Mexican flower landed on European shores. Today, it’s the most popular flower in the UK. There’s nowhere better in the country to experience their vast variety and mesmerising beauty than at the pick-your-own farm, Dahlia Beach—only 90 minutes from Birmingham.
Found in almost every hue, with a wide choice of shapes—from spiky, yellow petals to purple pom-pom heads—dahlias can brighten even the most dull gardens. They’re particularly known for their long flowering period, usually starting in mid-summer and continuing to the first frost in autumn. That’s why the UK’s largest supplier of cut flower dahlias opens this weekend (Saturday, August 16) to the end of October.
Tell me more about Dahlia Beach:
Like many good things these days, Dahlia Beach started as a lockdown obsession. However, this dahlia addiction quickly bloomed into an award-winning dahlia farm—including the Director General’s Award at the Chelsea Flower Show. Home to 50 different varieties of nearly 10,000 dahlias, pick from thousands of flowers to take home for just £5.
What else is there to do?
As well as the kaleidoscopic flower fields, there is a cafe, farm shop, garden centre and a beautiful lake to gaze out upon. But make the most of your trip with a two-hour flower arranging workshop (£45), where you’ll not only pick your favourite dahlias, but learn to create beautiful hand-tied bouquets using your cut flowers.
Key dates for your diary, include: The Great British Dahlia Show (Sunday, September 14), with a celebration of all things dahlias; Silent Disco in the Dahlias (Saturday, September 20), which will have you grooving to pop between the flowers; and Dinner in the Dahlias (Saturday, September 27) with a fixed-course menu using seasonal, local ingredients.
How do I get to Dahlia Beach?
Located at Millets Farm in Abingdon, South Oxfordshire, Dahlia Beach is less than two hours from Birmingham. You can drive via the M40 to OX13 5HB, or take the train from New Street to Oxford and hop on a 20-minute bus. Dahlia Beach is open seven days a week from August 16 until October 31, from 10 am to 4 pm. If you don’t fancy the trip, you can always order some online, but you miss out on all the fun…
To learn more about Dahlie Beach, head here.