Sunflowers are big hit at livery master’s charity day

FAMILIES picked sunflowers at a charity day held at Stonor Farm.

Catherine Carr hosted the event in aid of the Chiltern Centre in Henley.

Young adults from the centre and their families spent the morning at the farm, enjoying tractor rides through the sunflower fields and vineyards and painting therapy sessions outdoors.

In the afternoon, the farm opened to the public who could try go-karting, making jewellery and corn dollies and face painting. Mrs Carr, who is master of the Worshipful Company of Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers, said: “I’m the first female master of a City livery company in 400 years and my chosen charity for the year is the Chiltern Centre.

“The morning was devoted to them. They came out here with carers, family and friends, no charge, just to enjoy it.

“The first thing they did was have a tractor ride to the sunflowers and pick as many as they liked. They thought it was fantastic but we couldn’t get the wheelchairs in, so we had to get another trailer from the farm and eight men hoisted the wheelchairs up.

“One girl who was a bit grumpy all day was smiling her heart out, cuddling a sunflower, and it was the best moment.”

Mrs Carr said people had poured in during the afternoon, adding: “We had fabulous weather so it was great. It was far beyond expectations.”

Harriet Barcella, a former fundraiser at the centre, attended with her children. She said: “What a wonderful day. The kids have done everything — they’ve painted, they’ve made jewellery, they’ve been go karting, they’ve picked sunflowers. We have eaten cake and empañadas — it’s just amazing.”

Bali Schofield, who came from London with husband Stephen and daughter Aurora, said: “The highlight was being in the sunflowers.

“It was a proper magical moment, being able to pick out our own. It was wonderful and all for such a good cause.”