Summer heatwaves bring freakishly early pumpkin patches to Staffordshire as spooky gourds defy droughts for bumper Pumpkin Village crop.
The National Forest Adventure Farm, in Tatenhill, is already seeing its Pumpkin Village fields fill up this year as more than 460,000 blue, star shaped, warty goblin and giant orange pumpkins appear over a month early due to unprecedented weather conditions.
Farmer Tom Robinson, who runs the attraction with his brother Ivor, said the combination of warmer weather and heavy soil conditions at the 16.6 acre pumpkin patch has meant pumpkins have thrived this year.
Preparing to open pickable pumpkin patch Pumpkin Village next month he is already seeing some of the biggest pumpkins they have grown at the site since starting in 2011.
He said: “Pumpkins thrive on warm weather and moisture. Here at the National Forest Adventure Farm we are blessed to have very heavy soil which retains the water. It means that the soil has retained suitable moisture levels to allow the pumpkins to continue to grow even during the extra warm weather we had this Summer.
“Looking around the fields we have some of the largest varieties of ornamental and traditional pumpkins we have grown with just under two months till Halloween for them to keep growing. With lots of extra Halloween and autumnal activities down at the pumpkin patch this year it is definitely a good year for families looking to find the perfect pumpkin this year.”
Pumpkin Village, which launches on Saturday 3rd October, brings Instagram ready autumn fun with boutique street stalls, festoon lighting, pumpkin towers and acoustic sounds for autumnal days out.
The event, which is inspired by some of the world’s largest pumpkin farms, will include its wooden Pumpkin House and crate tower, entertainers, photo friendly activities, mini woodland trail and new for 2026 traditional corn holes, tin can alley and pumpkin bowling games.
Brothers Tom and Ivor Robinson found inspiration for the family friendly event after visiting some of the world’s largest pumpkin farms in Illinois and Chicago.
This year they have been growing over 35 varieties of seasonal squashes from giant traditional orange pumpkins or baby boo white gourds to blue, star shaped and warty goblin pumpkins.
Visitors can pick as many pumpkins as they wish from the 7-acre onsite pumpkin patch with the farmers growing a further 16 acres of pumpkin fields on neighbouring land. Ticket prices start from £5 with visitors paying for any pumpkins they take home.
Open from 10am till 4pm there is a licensed bar and street food stalls as well as roaming performers to keep the kids entertained and live music from a variety of acoustic and country bands.
The Pumpkin Village opens on Saturday 3rd October and runs on selected dates all the way through to Saturday 31st October.
Tickets cost £5 for the Pumpkin Village with Pumpkin Village and Play tickets costing £15 allowing visitors to explore the outdoor play areas including jumping pillows, go-karts and fossil dig as well as the three-storey indoor soft play and animal barn. Dogs are also available to join in the fun with a £2 ticket for four-legged friends.
More information is available at www.pumpkin-village.co.uk
Creative Word PR 