This panorama shows a rapeseed field in flower. The field was next to Cock Marsh near Cookham in Berkshire. In the middle of the field was an impressive, solitary tree. The image was taken whilst on a country walk with friends in April 2012.

Rapeseed Flower near Cock Marsh - Cookham visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'Rapeseed Flower near Cock Marsh' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from Berkshire.

Rapeseed (Brassica napus) is a common crop grown throughout England, grown here since the 14th century. Also known as rape, oilseed rape, rapa, rappi or rapaseed, it is grown for the oil extracted from its seeds and forms a large component of vegetable oil used in cooking. In the 19th century the oil was used extensively for steam engines and was too bitter for human consumption, but this was changed through selective breeding, a kind of natural genetic engineering. The UK is a major global producer of rapeseed oil.

During April and May vast tracts of fields throughout England turn bright yellow due to the rapeseed flowers. This panorama shows such a field next to Cock Marsh coming into bloom near Cookham in Berkshire.

Train: Cookham Station with a change at Maidenhead for links to London Padington.
Road: Cookham is 35 miles west of London on the M4, A4 and A4094. It is about 35 miles southeast of Oxford on the M40 and A4094 and 4 miles north of Maidenhead.