A local MP helped launch the handpicking season.
Belvoir Farm's unique annual elderflower harvest season is upon us. They're calling for people across the country to lend a hand in picking.
Pickers will be paid in cash once the elderflowers have been weighed and verified.
Local MP for Rutland and Melton, Alicia Kearns, visited the farm's new plantation of elders to launch the picking season this week. She helped to handpick some of the elderflowers in the 60-acre organic plantation.
This year’s harvest also ties into the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, with two limited edition ‘Best of British’ bottles designed to house Belvoir’s classic Elderflower Cordial and Sparkling Elderflower.
The elders have been planted as part of The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC) for people to enjoy for many years ahead. It also acts as a way to teach locals about the farm's sustainability initiatives.
The elderflower harvesting season has a crucial six-week blooming season between May and June.
Picking takes place from Belvoir’s plantations and the wild surrounding hedgerows found across Leicestershire and the company’s three bordering counties.
Pickers will be encouraged to pick and drop-off on the same day.
Elderflower is what inspired the first drink Belvoir Farm created over 40 years ago and their signature cordial is still made to the same traditional family recipe.
From just one cordial, the range has grown to include over 30 delicious soft drinks, all bottled at the Bottesford plant and shipped around the UK and across the world.
Get involved in the paid to pick elderflower harvest season on the Belvoir Farm website.
Written by Kerry Smith
Kerry is editor of Cross Production's Niche Magazine in Leicester and has a degree in film and journalism. She writes about business news, local people, entertainment, and has a particular interest in theatre.
