Dozens of residents have voiced their support for an expanding farm diversification scheme in which visitors are invited to pick their own flowers in the North York Moors National Park.
The Flower Belt, which was launched two years ago on a 3.5-hectare parcel of land between Helmsley and Sproxton, is seeking to open from April to October to sell produce such as sunflowers, wildflowers and pumpkins grown on the site, alongside other local produce.
The business, which is the only one of its type in the North of England, has operated under a temporary 28-day use a year with temporary structures using permitted development rights, but following success, the business is looking to introduce tulips to its range of flowers.
Planning documents lodged with the North York Moors National Park Authority state the agricultural landscape provides a setting for the Flower Belt which does not harm the amenity of others.
The application states The Flower Belt would “continue to operate quietly alongside the existing farm unit as a unique farm diversification project”, offering some 32 varieties of wildflowers to pick from.
It adds: “The site promotes a friendly and family activity and promotes a mindful experience in the outdoors.
“It is fully acknowledged that proposals for new development should build on the character of the North York Moors National Park. In essence, the public benefit accrued from the site is already sufficient to outweigh any small-scale impact on the local landscape from the period of April – October in any calendar year.”
Ahead of the proposal being considered by the planning authority, it has attracted numerous letters of support from residents, who have described it as “wonderful”, “fantastic” and “brilliant”.
The letters underline how the meadows make the area “spectacularly beautiful”, improve the area’s ecology while also increasing the tourism offer near the market town dependent on visitors.
One resident wrote: “The enterprise is a perfect example of diversification by farmers that works for local residents as well as visitors, all of whom seem to be full of praise for the innovative use of land. It attracts visitors from near and far and Helmsley itself must benefit from that too.”
Another resident added: “At a time when the government is actively encouraging farmers to diversify, The Flower Belt stands as a shining example of how this can be done in a way that benefits both the environment and the community. The project embodies the principles of sustainability, localism, and innovation, which are crucial to the future of rural areas.”
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