The poem In Flanders Field by John McCrae was largely responsible for beginning the tradition of wearing red poppies for remembrance. The common poppy is the official county flower for Essex and next summer it is hoped a new array of poppies will be seen in surprising places as Peter Holmes has been finding out.
Essex bee farmer Mike Coe says it’s been a good year for honey, despite hives being lost through wasp attacks. He told Peter Holmes that it has been a bit of a blow for bee farmers but they’ll bounce back by splitting hives and starting again.
Peeking over the gardens of Colchester is a giant sunflower grown by Malcolm Bacon. This 11ft 3in Russian Giant is in the running for Thompson & Morgan’s UK’s tallest sunflower competition. Peter Holmes has been out in the north Essex town to see if he can spot it.
Salad producer Angflaw from Frating near Colchester in Essex has become the first in the UK to produce Lamb’s Lettuce and has also just started producing miniature kale leaves. Managing director Dave Edwards spoke to Peter Holmes and told him how the production of Lamb’s lettuce had taken off.