Arundel & South Downs MP, Andrew Griffith, was out supporting local attractions with a visit to the Bignor Sunflower Maze on Friday (19th August) which he described as a ‘fantastic and sustainable family day out in the heart of the beautiful South Downs countryside’.
Andrew met Lisa and Will Tupper of Bignor Farm to see how they have diversified their farm to offer families an affordable day out during the school summer holidays. The farm is also the site of the historic Bignor Roman Villa that Andrew describes as one of the ‘hidden jewels’ of West Sussex.
The Sunflower Maze includes a picking patch so that visitors can take away stems of a variety of the sunny flowers, many of which have grown to over 7 feet tall. The maze itself has been cleverly ‘drill planted’ in the shape of a bee. British bees love the pollen and nectar of sunflowers. With no permanent installations and providing a habitat for nature and pollinators, the maze is a perfect example of a sustainable rural enterprise.
Andrew praised the Tupper family who have farmed in Bignor for generations for opening up their farm to offer a great day out. And it is not just the daytimes, because the Maze has also drawn in visitors with its ‘Sunset in the Sunflowers’ evening. They also provide low impact camping pitches for those who wish to experience more of the stunning South Downs setting and the National Park’s status as one of the UK’s few Dark Sky Reserves. Bignor offers exceptional conditions for viewing the sky at night, with recent campers enjoying the Perseid meteor shower.
The Sunflower Maze and picking patch has free parking and is open until Bank Holiday Monday.
ENDS
Notes
- Photograph 1 – Andrew with Lisa (daughter Maggie), and Will Tupper.
- For more information see www.bignorromanvilla.co.uk – Facebook /theofficialbignorromanvilla - Twitter @BignorVilla – Instagram #bignorromanvilla.
