Lavender early in heatwave, Hertfordshire, UK - 24 Jun 2024

Picture dated June 24th shows Emily Gaskins,19, who works at Hitchin Lavender in Hertfordshire, picking the lavender on Monday morning as the temperatures start to rise with a heatwave forecast for this week. This may look like the fields of Provence in the South of France with long waving rows of purple lavender - but amazingly this shot has been captured in the heart of England. A spectacular sea of purple is welcoming visitors at Cadwell Farm in Hitchin, Hertfordshire today (Mon) where the lavender has flowered a week early as England enjoys a week of hot weather. Visitors were seen walking through the 25 acres of purple plants at Hitchin Lavender as temperatures soared to 25C in parts of the south of England. Tim Hunter and his family planted their first lavender crop in 2000 and they hope to produce up to 300 litres of lavender oil this year from 60 different varieties. He said: "We've got a great crop of lavender this year. The early varieties of lavender are flowering a week earlier than usual and have got very green lush foliage and long stems, due to the wet Spring. "The lavender seemed to really benefit from the mild winter and the flowers are now opening in the heat." Today areas of mist and fog are expected to lift to leave a largely dry day with sunny spells and warm sunshine. Scotland and Northern Ireland will see some showery rain tomorrow, but elsewhere most places will stay fine with light winds and further very warm or hot spells of sunshine and temperatures soaring to 27C. It is set to be cloudy and cool in the northwest on Wednesday, and some showers possible in the southwest, but there will be hot sunshine elsewhere. Rain is likely to move east on Thursday and it will turn brighter and fresher for Friday, with temperatures back down to 22C.