Pumpkin patches help bridge the gap between town and country

As Halloween approaches, farmers have been opening their fields to their local communities, making the most of what has surely been one of the fastest-growing diversifications of recent years – pumpkin patches.

Cheshire-based farming family the Gilmans from Pye Ash Farm, Macclesfield, have been direct selling pumpkins for the past six years, one of a number of activities they run on their livestock holding to engage with the public and aid cashflow.

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This year, they have grown 1.5ha of pumpkins, producing about 20,000 individual fruits of more than 50 different varieties.

These are offered either as a pick-your-own option or can be gathered from a pumpkin maze constructed with big straw bales.

The Gilmans expect to receive up to 10,000 visitors from as far afield as Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham, paying £12 a car to enter the site, then purchasing pumpkins and food on top. 

“We are incredibly passionate about farming and about producing and selling locally sourced produce,” says Martha Gilman, who together with her parents Jane and James and brother George and his wife Liz, helps run the 81ha grassland farm.

“Bringing thousands of people onto the farm also gives us a fantastic opportunity to show visitors what farming is really about, and tell them more about where their food comes from.”

Pop-up farmers’ market

As well as pumpkins the attraction offers tractor rides, a nature trail, sheepdog demonstrations, street food, face painting and, for the first time this year, a pop-up farmers’ market.

This includes a milkshake shack provided by another local farmer, and an organic fruit and veg stall. The Gilmans are also selling their own beef and lamb direct, having had two Hereford cows and several lambs killed and butchered in advance.

“Selling our own meat is something we have wanted to do for a very long time,” says Martha. “There has been such a strong demand from people wanting to buy our produce that we felt the time was right to start.”

The offering has been well received, she says. “George and Liz put in a lot of work and we were all a bit apprehensive, but sales have gone really well. It is something we plan to hopefully do more of.”

Intensive preparations

Meanwhile, at Trefaes Ganol, near Cardigan in Pembrokeshire, the Thomas family are welcoming about 100 cars a day to their 1.6ha pumpkin patch, following three weeks of intensive preparations.

The attraction, which opens at weekends, costs £10.48 a car, with pumpkins and refreshments sold separately. Visitors can also enjoy face painting, woodland play areas and Halloween displays.

Farmer Hugh Thomas, who is also a member of the Hawkstone Farmers Choir, says the family have grown thousands of pumpkins this year.

Hugh and Rachel Thomas © MAG/Anne Dunn

The diversification began six years ago during Covid, when the family cleared a small woodland area and planted pumpkins.

A Facebook post advertising the surplus attracted unexpected interest.

“It went absolutely crazy,” recalls Hugh. “It went viral!”

Visitor numbers have since grown, with some families travelling 40-50 miles to visit.

Challenging season

Daughter Helen Thomas, who farms alongside her parents, says the dry conditions have made this a particularly difficult growing season.

The family’s sunflower crop struggled, while wheat and barley yields were also affected. However, a new maize maze helped compensate for the disappointing sunflower season.

Pumpkins have performed considerably better, helped by moisture-retaining soil and additional irrigation. “It’s been a bumper year, and I’m not going to lie we had some heartaches and sleepless nights about it back in August because it was so dry,” says Helen.

Beyond providing additional farm income, the attraction has helped the family engage with local primary schools, Young Farmers’ Clubs and the wider public.

For regular visitor Marian Jones, who attends in fancy dress, the attraction has also become an annual community gathering. “It’s really brilliant. It brings everybody together. We get loads of local people, and sometimes this is the only place we meet up once a year.” 

Autumn activities

Valley View at Gouldings © Trend Differently

In Scotland, family-run Valley View at Gouldings, in Rosebank, Clyde Valley, has expanded its annual pumpkin-picking event to offer a wider range of autumn activities.

Running until 31 October, the attraction includes Halloween displays, pumpkin carving, marshmallow toasting, seasonal food and drink, and evening sessions.

Visitors pay £5 per person, with pumpkins purchased separately, while children under one enter free.

The business has also introduced themed date nights and yoga sessions in the pumpkin patch, following the success of a Scottish Sunflower event earlier this year.

Events manager Ash Newsome-Miller says the aim is to encourage visitors to spend more time at the attraction.

“We want people to explore, take photographs, enjoy the displays, pick their pumpkins, carve them here, toast marshmallows and really make a day out of it.”

The programme will conclude with a Halloween guising event on 31 October, when children arriving in fancy dress will receive bags of treats.