Selborne Farm: Tradition Meets Innovation

For 76 years, the Butler family has been farming in Selborne, initially focused on hops for brewing and potatoes. Today, the farm has streamlined operations, cultivating wheat, oilseed rape, beans, millet, and lavender, while leasing land for vegetable growing, including baby spinach and coriander.

Their journey into diversification began in 1989, repurposing surplus farm buildings after ceasing cattle rearing to create the Hartley Park Business Centre, offering small workshop and office spaces.

Tim and his son Simon have turned one of the farm’s barns into a secure storage facility under the Barn Store brand. Meanwhile, Tim and his wife Anne reside on-site, along with Simon. Anne manages the English Hampshire Lavender Company, transforming the lavender harvest into fragrant soaps, oils, and sprays available at their farm shop and local farmers’ markets. The lavender blooms are a stunning sight along the B3006 Liss to Alton road in June. Visit www.thelavenderfields.co.uk to learn more.

Though no longer in brewing, hops are still grown and available for purchase from the farm or at farmers’ markets in August and September, ideal for decorative uses.

Conveniently located just outside Selborne village on the B3006, the farm is 5 minutes from Alton off the A31 and 10 minutes from Liss off the A3.