Kentish Express Ashford & District - What's On
TIME TO PICK YOUR PUMPKIN
Now that the leaves are falling and autumn is with us, orange is in... and it’s time to think pumpkins. Angela Cole looks at some of the Halloween-flavoured fun already coming our way
Picking your own pumpkin is big business – and for one local farm, it just got even bigger. Last autumn, Charlie Eckley launched Pumpkin Moon at Boarley Farm in Sandling, Maidstone, offering a day out picking pumpkins and squashes.
The farm offered 13 varieties and it proved hugely popular with visitors. But this year Pumpkin Moon will launch on Saturday, October 7 with a staggering 50-plus types of pumpkin, squash, gourds and sweetcorn. They come in weird and wonderful sizes, shapes, colours and have unlikely names from Monster Smash and Polar Bear to a squash called Pink Banana. Mr Eckley believes many visitors will have never seen some of the varieties on offer – or the range of colours and sizes. Food and drink will be available. Last year, the site donated £2,500 to the British Heart Foundation and the Heart of Kent Hospice.
Entry is free and visitors pay for what they pick. The site will be open on selected days and then every day from Friday, October 20 to Sunday, October 29. To find out more, visit pumpkinmoon.uk farm in Penshurst Road, Bidborough, call 07961 893682 or visit facebook. com/farmfourwinds for details.
MILEBUSH FARM, WEST FARLEIGH
Open daily from 9am to 5pm, the farm in Shingle Barn Lane, West Farleigh, has started PYO pumpkins this year. Head to the farm in West Farleigh near Maidstone, ME15 0PN, call 07971 964509 or visit facebook. com/pickyourownmilebushfarm for details.
SEVINGTON, NEAR ASHFORD
The family-owned farm will be open to pumpkin pickers on Saturday, October 14 and Sunday, October 15 from 10am to 4pm, and from Saturday, October 21 through to Sunday, October 29. The venture raises funds for charity each year. Children will also have the opportunity to meet Peppa Pig on Tuesday, October 24 and Cinderella on Thursday, October 26, when she will be able to help pick a pumpkin to turn into a carriage. Head to the farm at TN25 7HX. For details go to facebook.com/pickyourownpumpkin.