All you need to know for a visit to Rougham Estate Pumpkin Patch this October
October marks the start of spooky season, with a plethora of pumpkin patches across the region opening their gates to the public.
We decided to take a trip to Rougham Pumpkins on Sunday – only its second day of trading in 2022, having opened a day earlier on October 1 – to start collecting for our doorstep display.
The Rougham Estate Pumpkin Patch made its debut last year and was such a success it virtually ran out of pumpkins just before the key date of Hallowe'en.
This year, it is bigger and better.
More pumpkins – in more varieties – have been planted, the straw bale pyramid is bigger, Wright's are offering on-site refreshments and there is plenty more besides pumpkins to keep families entertained.
On arrival, my six-year-old daughter Clara headed straight to climb some hay bales while we waited for our friends Serena and her daughter Quinn to arrive.
After taking a wrong turn (and heading to the 2021 pumpkin patch site further up the road by mistake) Serena and Quinn soon joined us, with the girls jumping straight into the giant sandpit for some play before racing each other on pedal tractors around a track.
Before long they both asked to have their faces painted and we headed for the short queue. Soon a transformed rainbow witch and a butterfly beauty appeared in front of us. We decided it was time to head over to the pumpkin patch – via picking up two wheelbarrows along the way.
A 'menu' lists the 18 varieties planted at the estate this year – and what a selection there is.
Serena and I were tempted by the 'winter squash turks turbans' and set about finding some prime examples.
Meanwhile, the girls headed off hunting 'polar bears', 'big Lorettas' and 'harvest moons'.
We all found some excellent specimens, loaded the barrows and then Serena and I disappointed our daughters by saying 'enough is enough' – after all, it was only October 2.
We headed to the squash wash station to rinse the mud off our selections (the boot of my car is very grateful not to be filled with mud this year) and then aimed our barrows towards some of the photographic opportunities dotted around the pumpkin field.
From giant picture frames to spooky windows, Rougham is well set for anyone wanting to share their experiences on social media.
With the children starting to show signs of grumpiness, we limited our photographic efforts to the headline picture of bales and giant 'Rougham Pumpkins' letters, a picture frame and the spooky door, while no amount of persuasion would tempt the girls to pose for further pictures on this visit.
So we headed to the pumpkin pay station ready to discover how much we would be billed for the contents of our barrows.
We were both pleasantly surprised.
With three mid-sized pumpkins, Serena was charged £3.50. My barrow contained five pumpkins of varying sizes, which came to £8.50 in total. I know I have paid more, for less, at other patches in the past.
There was just time for another quick play in the sandpit and a run around the perimeter of the tractor track (the girls, not the grown-ups) and then we went our separate ways and headed home, having spent two hours at the patch.
It wasn't until later that I realised Serena and I hadn't even tried our hands at welly wanging, the giant noughts and crosses (using gourds) or tested our aims with corn hole games also on site. Maybe next time.
Top tips for Rougham Pumpkins:
- No need to worry about taking cash as you can pay for pumpkins, refreshments and face painting by card
- Take a wheelbarrow on to the pumpkin field. Trust me, you will need it
- Allow enough time for your visit – we stayed twice as long as I anticipated
- Dress for the weather. We were treated to autumnal sunshine and soon shed our coats and donned sunglasses, but if the weather had been wet you would need your Wellington boots and waterproofs
- Face painting is £5, while an 'eye design' is £4 – ages three upwards
- Entry and parking are free, with no need to book
- Toilet facilities are available on site
- Pay per pumpkin (price dependent on size)
- Coffee, snacks, toasties, licensed bar and ice cream available from Wright's, which is offering catering at the patch
For more information go to https://roughamestate.com/farm/pyo-pumpkins/
The Rougham pumpkin patch opens 9am-5pm on October 8, 9, 15, 16 and daily from October 20-30.
It is signposted from junction 45 of the A14.
