Pick-Your-Own Events – All Year Round

August 28, 2025

There’s tons of opportunity to pick your own produce at local farms across the South of England, with different crops available depending on the season.

Spring: May to June – PYO Strawberries & Early Berries

To kick off the season strawberries are available to pick from May to June, with many fruit farms featuring play areas and treats for children, making it the perfect Spring family activity!

Strawberry picking farms in Hampshire such as Bourne Valley PYO, Goodalls Farm, and Pickwell Farm offer early picking opportunities. Sopley Farm and Cat & Fiddle farm in Dorset offer not just strawberry picking, but raspberries, blackberries, gooseberries and more.

Sussex also has some great strawberry picking options including Roundstone Farm Shop and Garden Centre and Dell Quay PYO (Dell Quay often reshare photos on Instagram so be sure to tag them and get featured!)

Summer: June to August – Cherries, Orchards & Pick Your Own Sunflowers

As June rolls in you’ll start to see farms offering fresh cherries and cherry picking opportunities. Places like Goodalls Farm, Hampshire, offer PYO cherries, a great day out for parents and little ones alike. If you’re just looking to purchase fresh produce the prestigious Blackmoor Estate, Hampshire, has over 100 years of fruit growing experience and is particularly proud of their cherry crops which get turned into cherry cider, jam, chutney and more.

Raspberries and soft fruits also become available for picking from June through to August, with summer-bearing varieties of raspberries like Glen Ample and Tulameen ready to be enjoyed! Summer is the best time to pick blackberries, raspberries and other soft fruits and there are plenty of farms across the South of England to pick these sweet summer treats including; Pickwell Farm Shop, Durleighmarsh Farm and Stoke Fruit Farm Shop in Hampshire, for Dorset you may like to visit Cat & Fiddle Farm or Sopley Farm Shop. If you find yourself in Sussex, we recommend Dell Quay, Roundstone and Tibbs Farm for raspberry picking along the South Coast.

Many people don’t realise that there are also community orchards where people can come and pick a variety of fruits like apples, plums and pears – often for free or a modest donation! Community orchards begin to blossom in Spring, often hosting blossom festivals as well as opening to the public for harvest. These orchards are usually run by volunteers and local groups such as The Orchard Project or Abundance Network. They support biodiversity, pollinators, local access to organic fruit, and foster community involvement through festivals, workshops and volunteer days – so be sure to leave the area as you found it, respect your surroundings and pick fruit fairly!

Fruit picking not for you? If you’re looking for the ideal summer photo opportunity for you and your family, pick your own flower fields are the way to go. From July through to September, PYO farms like Sopley Farm, Dorset, Lower Norton Flower Farm in Hampshire and the popular Sams’ Sunflowers, Hampshire, host sunflower fields for sunflower picking and flower cutting areas for picking blooms directly. If purple is more your colour, summer is the best time to visit a lavender farm, with lavender picking available between June and full bloom taking place around mid-July. We recommend lavender fields like Lordington Lavendar, Chichester, Longbarn, Arelsford and Lavender Fields in Alton (Note: Some farms do not offer picking but they’re still a great spot to capture those stunning family photos and grab some lavender infused gifts in the shop!)

Where you can capture the perfect family photo and take home some freshly cut flowers too!

Autumn: August to October – Cooler weather rolls in!

Possibly the most iconic PYO family activity is pumpkin picking! A family friendly autumn and Halloween activity suitable for the whole family, and not too scary for the little ones.

Whether you’re picking your pumpkins for a seasonal soup or pumpkin pie, or looking for the perfect shape to carve a spooky jack-o-lantern, here are just a few of our favourite spots:

Fordingbridge Pumpkin Patch (Fordingbridge Pumpkin Pastures, Hampshire)

Located just off the A338 near the New Forest, this patch features 10 acres with up to 30 varieties of pumpkins, plus a maize maze and craft activities for a full autumn experience. Entry is free (you pay only for what you pick).

Sunnyfields Farm, Totton (Southampton, Hampshire)

PYO pumpkins at Sunnyfields runs throughout October and on selected evenings they stay open late, great for families who might need to visit the patch after work!

Dewflock Farm, Winterborne Monkton (Dorchester, Dorset)

Great for kids with its maize maze, straw play, pig-feeding, indoor carving stations and more. Dewflock Farm runs it’s autumn activities on selected dates from early to late October. (Tickets often sold by timeslot).

Tulleys Farm (Crawley, Sussex)

Undoubtedly the most famous: over 100 acres and nearly 1 million pumpkins, plus “Pumpkin Nights,” live entertainment, food stalls, and Europe’s largest Halloween-themed events (Shocktober Fest). Tickets required.

Learn more about the best places to go pumpkin picking in the South of England.

Even more raspberries? That’s right! From August into early October, autumn varieties like Autumn Bliss, Polka, Tadmore, Versailles begin to ripen. Many farms offer both summer and autumn types for continuous harvest, so don’t worry if you missed the summer batch, there’s always more to come!

Apple picking in the South of England begins in September and runs through October at farms such as those previously mentioned, as well as community orchard sites to PYO apples. Visit with the children and learn all about fresh produce, harvesting and teach them to enjoy their 5-a-day!

Community orchards also often host harvest festivals with family games and activities to take part in, as well as cider‑press days for the parents too! Blackmoor’s famous Apple Tasting Day, Hampshire, runs yearly around October and has been running for over 50 years. The event invites the community to taste tons of varieties of apples and cast votes on their favourites, as well as interactive stalls, crafts and food to be enjoyed all day long.

So why not make every season PYO season?

There’s no reason to just go once, making a family day out by visiting a pick your own farm is a great activity that can be enjoyed again and again. From blackberry picking, pyo raspberries, apples and more to flowers and attractions to be enjoyed with each season, it’s a fun and affordable day out for all.

From sweet spring strawberries to spooky autumn pumpkins, the South of England is bursting with pick-your-own adventures all year round. Don’t forget – community orchards are growing in popularity too, offering a sustainable (and often free!) way to enjoy local fruit while giving back to the environment and your community.

If you’d like to find out more about each season why not read our blogs:

Strawberry Picking
Sunflower Season
Apple Picking
Pumpkin Picking

So, grab your baskets, get those boots muddy, and make memories that are as fresh as the fruit you pick. Wherever you are in Hampshire, Dorset, or Sussex, your next PYO adventure is just around the corner!