Farmers to open Pick Your Own Pumpkin Patch in Cowbit

Families will not have to travel far to pick their own pumpkins this Halloween when a new patch opens to the public.

Brothers William and Sam Tyrrell are believed to have planted the first Pick Your Own Pumpkin patch in South Holland after setting up a four acre site at their family farm in Cowbit.

As the popularity of Halloween has grown in recent years, so has the pumpkin business. The UK grows 15 million pumpkins each year which are used for carving to decorate homes.

Pick Your Own Pumpkin patches were also one of the success stories of last year when lockdowns prevented a number of the usual activities.

Tyrrells Farm is no stranger to growing pumpkins as the family has been selling them to wholesalers for several years, but this will be the first time they will inviting people onto the Backgate farm to pick a pumpkin.

William, who has been selling the winter squashes on the side of the road in the past, said: “Halloween has really taken off in recent years. I visited other Pick Your Own Pumpkin patches last year and it was amazing to see the enthusiasm and enjoyment of people. It was a concept that we hadn’t thought about before.

“Covid has altered things so people are not able to do the other traditional activities and found different things to do.

“We thought we would give it a go to provide an alternative service and to do something different.”

The family farm covers180 acres in the Cowbit area. They grow cereals, sugar beet and some flowers, but it is hoped the new pumpkin patch will provide an alternative income.

William, who has received a rural business grant to help with the enterprise, said: “We will have wheelbarrows for people to use as they walk around the field to choose their own pumpkin.

“The pumpkins are growing well and are looking really good.”

The family have ordered 50 wheelbarrows for the venture and are hoping to open up the patch to the public on the first weekend in October.

He is also hoping that the patch will also raise awareness of farming and allow people to ask questions.

For more information email farm@tyrrellandson.co.uk