Key details
When:
Opening Dates for 2026
Weekend: Sat 3 – Sun 4 October
Weekend: Sat 10 – Sun 11 October
Weekend: Sat 17 – Sun 18 October
Daily from Sat 24 – Sat 31 October
9am – 5pm
10am – 5pm on Tuesday 27th and Thursday 29th
Gates close around 4:30pm
Tuesday 27th and Thursday 29th 9am – 10am are reserved for ticketed SEN-friendly visits only
Please book tickets for these sessions here – tickets coming soon
Pumpkins by Torchlight & Silent Disco
Sat 17 October 6pm-9pm
Sat 24 October 6pm-9pm
Please book your headsets – tickets coming soon
Where:
New location for 2026!
Rougham Sunflower and Pumpkin Field
Just south of Junction 45 of the A14,
3 miles east of Bury St Edmunds
Detailed directions with the map below
For your SatNav, use the postcode: IP30 9HX
Pricing:
Free admission and parking, no booking needed
Pumpkins and gourds priced according to size
Rougham Pumpkins
Rougham Pumpkins are back for 2026!
Just in time for Halloween, Rougham Estate has a vast, beautiful field full of hundreds of thousands of pumpkins, squashes and gourds in over 15 different varieties and in a huge array of different sizes and glorious colours, just waiting to be picked!
Positioned just south of Junction 45 on the A14, the Rougham Pumpkin Patch is a sea of orange, where visitors can grab a wheelbarrow and choose as many of their perfect pumpkins as they want, just where they have been growing.
There is plenty more to enjoy too, with room for children to run and climb, space to picnic, sandpits, ice cream, pedal tractors and small pumpkin games for the family, as well as lots of fabulous photo opportunities and a delicious range of food trucks including a bar.
Face painting by Face It Face Painting will be creating face art each day we are open (£5, people aged over 3 years old.)
With free entrance and parking, come along and take it easy; stay for as long as you like, dress up if you wish, just come and let the children play.
Pay for the pumpkins you choose at the exit from the patch.
Food and Drink
There is a fabulous range of food and drink vendors coming over the days we are open; come and enjoy amazing food, festival vibes and pumpkins galore!
Here every weekend:
Roots&Co – Coffee, drinks, cakes, snacks, beer and prosecco
What The Peck – Fabulous Suffolk-reared fried chicken
Bad Boy Burritos – Toasted burritos using fresh, local ingredients
Pigs In – All your pork favourites in one place
Full Throttle – Combining passion for two wheels with premium coffee (except Sunday 11th October)
GeeGeeBakes – Delicious cheesecakes, milkshakes and sweets
At the Pitch in the Patch, sustaining you while on your search for the perfect pumpkin:
Kiernans Coffee – Coffees, drinks, cakes and snacks
Weekend 1 (Saturday 3rd only) and Weekends 2 (10th,11th), 3 (17th,18th) and 4 (24th,25th) and Friday 30th October:
Tikka Tonic – New Delhi style street food
Weekend 1 (3rd, 4th), Weekend 2 (Sunday 11th only), Weekends 3 (17th, 18th) and 4 (24th, 25th)
Creperie Shack – Delicious sweet and savoury crepes made fresh to order
Weekend 2 (Sunday 11th only), Weekend 3 (Sunday 18th only)
Greys Coffee – Tasty coffee, matcha & homemade bakes
Weekends 3 (17th,18th) and 4 (24th,25th):
Otis Breading – Wonderful sourdough toasties and salads
Dogs
Well-behaved dogs on a short lead are welcome in the picnic area and in the little dedicated doggy pumpkin patch. We do not recommend buying these pumpkins, due to normal dog behaviour.
Dogs are not allowed into the main pumpkin patch – the clean-up job in previous years has been too much, unfortunately.
It is always difficult to balance the wishes of dog owners (as we are) who really want to take their dogs into the main pumpkin patch and the upset of customers whose children have ended up with dog dirt over them, so we have tried to find a reasonable compromise. Thank you for your understanding and for respecting our boundaries.
Booking & SEN-FRIENDly visiting times
In general there is no need to book to visit our pumpkin patch, except for the SEN-friendly hours.
On Tuesday 27th and Thursday 29th October, between 9am and 10am, we are holding SEN-friendly sessions where the pumpkin patch will only be open to those who have pre-booked tickets to visit. These dedicated times are designed to provide a calm, supportive environment for individuals with Special Educational and Sensory Needs. Book your SEN-friendly hour here (tickets coming soon).
The field will be open as usual to the wider public from 10am onwards on these days, with no booking needed.
Pumpkins by Torchlight 2026
On two spooky Saturday evenings – the 17th and 24th October – the Rougham Pumpkin Patch will be open from 6pm to 9pm for a fabulous pumpkin festival at night, including a silent disco.
Bring your torches, wear your wellies and enjoy the fun!
More information here and headset tickets (tickets coming soon).
See you soon!!
Important information
Gallery
Picking your Pumpkins
01
Take a wheelbarrow when you arrive
02
If you have a dog with you, it must stay in the picnic area
Well-behaved dogs are welcome on the picnic area and on the little doggy pumpkin patch. They must be kept on a short lead at all times. Dogs are not allowed into the main pumpkin patch due to previously having had to clean up too much mess. Please bring and use poop-bags.
03
Wander around the patch looking for your perfect pumpkin
Wander around the patch, looking for your perfect pumpkin; the pumpkins have been left to mature just where they grew. Check under the big leaves; pop pumpkins into your barrow as you go. Don’t forget to take some pictures and tag us!
04
When you are done and ready to leave, head for the marquee
When you are done and ready to leave, head for the marquee where our helpful staff will measure and price your pumpkins according to size. The pumpkins will be measured by passing them through our measuring circles; the larger the pumpkin, the higher the cost.
05
Pumpkin Prices
Pumpkins costs vary according to size, with an extra 50p added for the white pumpkins. Small gourds are priced at 50p and the larger ones at £1.
Payment is preferably by card please, and can be made in the marquee.
06
Take your pumpkins to your car
07
Bring the wheelbarrow back for the next person to use
08
Relax, let the children play and have a bite to eat
While you are here, take your time. Relax and let the children run, climb and play. Visit the tasty street food vans for some refreshment or enjoy your own picnic.
09
Please take care when leaving the pumpkin patch
Please drive slowly through the little lanes.
Why not visit Blackthorpe Barn for Roots Café and the Rougham Estate Shop while you are here? It’s half a mile from the pumpkin patch, on the way to the A14.
Before October 19th, the shop is the Lifestyle and Garden Shop.
After October 19th, the famous Christmas Shop opens its doors.
10
Requests for Bulk Picking and Out-of-Hours Visits
We regularly get requests to pick a number of pumpkins for a special event, or to open the field out-of-hours for certain groups. We’re sorry, but unfortunately we are unable to fulfil these requests.
11
Donations to charities
There are many, many worthy charities in the local area and we are regularly asked to make donations. We have a limit for the number of donations we make and all donations must be approved in advance by Rougham Estate. On-the-spot requests for donations are not accepted.
12
Please Note: The pumpkins can be eaten, but the gourds are not edible.

Things to bring
- Wellies if it has been raining and the ground is muddy
- Cash or Card; admission and parking are free, but you may like to buy some pumpkins, some food and drink or get your child’s face painted. Card is preferred but cash is accepted
- Gloves for carrying the pumpkins, if you need them
- Camera for taking pictures; tag us @roughamestate
Professional Photography and Drone Flights
The Pumpkins make for wonderful photos and there are several feature areas for you to take home some special captured memories. You are welcome to take photos for purely personal use.
We are happy to encourage professional photographers to use our wonderful pumpkin patch for photoshoots too, subject to the following conditions.
For the comfort and safety of all our visitors, and considering the fact that the pumpkin patch is part of Rougham Estate which is private land, all professional, commercial, for-profit, paid-for or “organised” photoshoots require a licence and must be pre-booked and authorised by Rougham Estate.
Drone use is strictly prohibited unless pre-arranged and authorised by Rougham Estate. It should be undertaken during hours when the site is not open to the public, and will incur a fee.
Rougham Estate must be credited on all professional/commercial images sold or used for social media.
Unauthorised professional photographers or photoshoots may be asked to leave/stop as determined by Rougham Estate staff.
If you are interested in holding a photoshoot or flying a drone at the pumpkin patch, please contact:
E: [email protected]
Rougham Pumpkins
Here’s a video of how Rougham Pumpkins looks during the year, filmed in 2023
What others are saying
Rougham Sunflower and Pumpkin Field, south of A14, Junction 45
Elderstub Lane, Rougham,
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
SatNav: postcode IP30 9HX
On arriving at the Sunflower and Pumpkin Field please park in the area adjacent to the picnic area; there is ample parking on grass.
The pumpkins are in the same field as the sunflowers this year.
The field is just east of Bury St. Edmunds, easily accessible from the A14 and clearly sign-posted from Junction 45.

From J45, A14 Eastbound Carriageway:
- turn left (first exit) on the roundabout at the end of the A14 slip road
- go under the A14 bridge
- at the T junction turn right, by the white house and entrance to Blackthorpe Barn
- follow this lane for about half a mile until you reach Elderstub Lane on the left
- turn left down Elderstub Lane and the entrance is about 150yds on the right
From the J45, A14 Westbound Carriageway:
- turn right at the end of the A14 slip road
- at the T junction turn right, by the white house and entrance to Blackthorpe Barn
- follow this lane for about half a mile until you reach Elderstub Lane on the left
- turn left down Elderstub Lane and the entrance is about 150yds on the right
There is no entrance fee – the field is free to visit
You don’t need to book to enter the pumpkin patch, just come along, unless you would like to visit during the SEN-friendly sessions, where you need to book a free ticket.
For the Pumpkins by Torchlight events, you are welcome to just turn up. No booking is needed. However if you would like to take part in the Silent Disco, you will need to book the headsets.
Yes, there is plenty of free parking in the field with the sunflowers and pumpkins.
Yes, there are portaloos at the side of the field in the picnic area. There is also a baby-change unit and an accessible toilet.
Well-behaved dogs on short leads are welcome in the picnic area of the pumpkin field.
There is a special little pumpkin patch for dogs, at the entrance to the main patch. We don’t recommend buying these pumpkins due to normal dog behaviour.
Unfortunately, due to having had to clean up after too many dogs, dogs are not allowed inside the main pumpkin patch.
- Please keep your dog under control at all times and ensure that your dog does not disturb other people’s enjoyment of the premises or block any passageways.
If it’s been dry recently, you don’t need any special clothing or footwear to visit the pumpkin field. If it’s been raining recently, the ground may be muddy and you may want to consider wearing wellies. You are welcome to wear fancy dress if you like.
Yes, the field is fine for buggies and prams, but please note that it is a field and can be uneven in places. If it’s been raining the ground can get muddy.
Wheelchairs are welcome in the sunflower and pumpkin field. There are wood chippings down at the entrance and in other areas of high footfall, but otherwise the paths are just the earth of the field.
If it has been dry, the earth will be hard and dusty, and may be uneven in places, but if it has been raining, it could well be muddy.
There is an accessible toilet in the picnic area of the field.
Accessible parking is available near the entrance to the field.
Yes, we have food and drink vendors at the field. Please see the list above. Please keep an eye on this page and on our social media for any updates.
We prefer cards, but accept both cards and cash at every payment area on the field, including for the pumpkins, the nature hunt, food and drink and for face-painting.
Yes, there are plenty of picnicking spots. Bring a blanket and a picnic, and enjoy your time here.
Unfortunately no picnics are allowed after 5pm, when the evening events start.
The pumpkins are all edible, but the gourds are not. We have a big board up at the field which lists the varieties and whether they are edible or not.
Our pumpkins and gourds are all grown right here by Rougham Estate. We don’t import any.
Most of the pumpkins are scattered across the patch exactly where they have grown, waiting to be picked. You can wander amongst them to find your perfect one.
Sometimes we move some around to create features in the field, like gathering them together to make the Pumpkin House.
Yes, we have a recipe for a tasty pumpkin pie at the field, or find one online.
Yes, there is a baby-changing unit in one of the portaloos
These are times where entrance to the sunflower and pumpkin field is ticketed to limit the number of people visiting. They happen on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9am – 10am and are perfect for those who benefit from quieter surroundings, predictable routines and a slower pace.
During these times only those people with tickets will be given entry.
The general public are welcome to visit after 10am on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with no booking required.
Yes, we have plenty of wheelbarrows.
Please remember to bring your wheelbarrow back to the wheelbarrow park, at the entrance, when you’re done with it, so that someone else can use it.
Face-painting is for children aged 3 and over.
The cosmetics have only been tested for children of this age and above. Applying the paints to children younger than this could cause a lifetime of allergic reactions.
Unfortunately we are not able to open the field out-of-hours. The field is generally quieter at the beginning of the morning or later in the afternoon and you may find that these times are suitable for your visit.
Unfortunately we don’t have the facilities to bulk-pick pumpkins for events. If you would like to come and pick the pumpkins yourself when we are open, you are welcome to.
The sunflowers and pumpkins are in a new field for 2026. It’s about the same driving distance from J45 on the A14 as the field last year, but this year it’s to the south of the A14.
The field we have used over the past few years needs a rest from growing sunflowers and pumpkins and it’s good for the ground to grow other crops for a while.
If your photos are purely for personal use, you are welcome to take as many pictures as you like. Do tag us @roughamestate if you post them – we love to see them!
If you are a professional photographer or are taking pictures for any for-profit/commercial reason, you are required to get a licence for the photoshoot on our private land and book a time to visit. Please see the details on this page.
Drone photography can only be undertaken at a time when the field is not open to the public. Please get in touch to book a time.
After the field closes, a local food charity comes to get a stack of pumpkins to be cooked up to make meals and the rest of the pumpkins are for a local flock of sheep that come and graze the field, eating the pumpkins and fertilising the field for the coming year.
Related Events
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Throwback Thursday to the beginning of one of the biggest projects we’ve undertaken at Blackthorpe Barn.
Back in February, the scaffolding and hoarding started going up as we began the full rethatching of this incredible 16th-century building.
It was quite a sight to see the work get underway, with around 12 highly skilled thatchers spending around 40 days carefully renewing the roof using traditional techniques.
Blackthorpe Barn has been part of Rougham Estate for more than 500 years and remains a real icon of the Estate. Today, it continues to be at the heart of what we do, currently hosting the Artworks East exhibition and in November, transforming into one of our biggest Christmas events, with our much loved Christmas Shop and Arts & Crafts Fair.
So while the thatching may be a traditional craft, the Barn certainly has plenty of life left in it now.
Here’s a little look back at where the rethatching journey began.
#RoughamEstate #BlackthorpeBarn #Rethatching
Today is exactly 100 days until Christmas!
Although here at Rougham Estate, Christmas arrives a little sooner...
Our Christmas Shop opens on Monday 19 October, bringing plenty of festive treats, beautiful decorations and special finds to help make your home feel magical this Christmas.
And before the doors open to everyone, we’ll be hosting an exclusive afternoon shopping event on Friday 16 October for a limited number of Rougham Estate newsletter subscribers. It’s a chance to explore the Christmas Shop and buy before anyone else.
Want to be among the first to see what’s coming? Make sure you’re subscribed (on the bottom of our website pages) to hear the latest news and be in with a chance of joining us.
Christmas might be 100 days away, but the countdown at Rougham Estate has already begun!
#RoughamEstate #ChristmasAtRougham #ChristmasShop #100DaysToChristmas
The recent rain has certainly been welcomed by the cattle on the Estate!
After a long, dry summer, the grass is getting a much needed boost and is starting to green up again, giving the cattle plenty to enjoy.
It’s always good to see the Estate responding to a change in the weather and nature getting back to doing what it does best.
#RoughamEstate #EstateLife #SuffolkFarming
Still clinging on to summer? We’ve got a special for you.
Our salad of the week is a fresh green bean salad with pecans, feta, spinach, red onion, sumac and micro coriander, all finished with a honey mustard dressing.
Or perhaps you’re already feeling a little more autumnal?
Our brunch special is a little more comforting, with crispy potatoes coated in caramelised onion jam, topped with fried halloumi, a poached egg, chilli flakes and parsley.
Whichever season you’re in, we’ve got something for you at Roots Café this week.
#RoughamEstate #RootsCafe #WeeklySpecials
Rougham Pumpkins opens again in 3 weeks! Yes, it’s that time again. 🎃🎉
The pumpkins are already looking great and the gates will be swinging open on Saturday 3rd Oct.
Save the date to come and wander amongst 100,000s of pumpkins, squashes and gourds in over 15 varieties.
You’ll find a whole autumn festival with the big bale pyramids, sandpits, pedal tractors, football goals, space to run and play and face painting by @faceitfaceart
These fabulous food trucks will be here every weekend:
🌮🌯🥞☕️🍰🥘🍦🥂🍗
Roots&Co - coffee, cakes, snacks, drinks (soft & alcoholic)
@whatthe_peck - Suffolk-reared fried chicken
@badboiburritos - toasted burritos
@Pigs_In - all your pork favourites
@GeeGeeBakes - coffee, cheesecakes, milkshakes
@KiernansCoffee - coffees, drinks & snacks at the Pitch in the Patch
@FullThrottleCoffeeCo - coffees & snacks
On selected days:
@Tikka_Tonic - New Delhi style street food
@TheCreperieShack - sweet & savoury crepes
@itsotisbreading - sourdough toasties & salads
@greyscoffee_ - coffees & homemade bakes
Bring your own picnic if you like.
🔦 Pumpkins by Torchlight & Silent Disco
On two spooky Saturday evenings, 17th & 24th October, 6pm–9pm, bring your torches, wear your wellies and enjoy the pumpkin patch after dark with a silent disco.
Disco headsets need to be booked - tickets coming soon.
🧡 SEN-Friendly Sessions
9am-10am on Tues 27th & Thurs 29th October, entry to the patch will be ticketed to give a quieter time for those who benefit from a calmer, more relaxed visit.
Free tickets to be booked in advance - tickets coming soon.
📅 Open on the following dates in October
9am–5pm
Sat 3 – Sun 4
Sat 10 – Sun 11
Sat 17 – Sun 18
Daily Sat 24 – Sat 31 (10am-5pm on 27th & 29th)
‼️The pumpkins are in the NEW Sunflower and Pumpkin Field, south of J45, A14, Elderstub Lane, SatNav: IP30 9HX
📣 We’re looking for seasonal staff aged over 18. Apply through the advert on Indeed.
🐕 Dogs welcome in the picnic area and the small doggy patch, but not in the main patch.
All the details from our website - link in bio.
#roughamestate #burystedmunds #pickyourownpumpkin
ArtWorks @artworkseast opens to the public today, Saturday 12 September, in the beautiful thatched Blackthorpe Barn
📅 12th – 27th September
🕙 10am – 4pm daily
🎟️ Free entry and free parking
📍Rougham Estate, SatNav: IP30 9HZ
Dogs welcome on leads.
We look forward to seeing you!
#suffolkart #eastanglianartists #burystedmunds #artexhibitions
Now in its 26th year, this much-loved exhibition brings together 28 established artists from across East Anglia
for a two-week show of beautiful contemporary art in one of Suffolk’s most special settings.
Over 300 artworks are on display
from abstract paintings and botanical illustrations to ceramics, sculpture and mixed media.
There is such a wide variety of work, everyone will find something to enchant them
and everything is available to buy.
The Private View on Friday evening was well attended
and from now on, every day, there is at least one artist demonstrating their work in the Barn.
At the weekends there are two artists working here each day,
so come along and “Meet the Artist”!
The exhibition is open for just over 2 weeks, until Sunday 27th September
and it’s free to enter, with free parking too.
With Roots Café and the Rougham Estate Lifestyle shop just next door
there are plenty of reasons to come and visit this brilliant exhibition!
We’re hiring at Roots Café!
We’re looking for a Café Supervisor to join our small, passionate team at Rougham Estate.
This is a hands-on role for someone who enjoys hospitality, loves working with people and can keep things running smoothly when the café gets busy.
You’ll work closely with our Café Manager, helping to lead the team, oversee day-to-day service, maintain high standards and make sure every customer receives a warm welcome.
If you have experience in a café, restaurant, farm shop or similar environment, and you’re a natural leader who’s happy to roll up your sleeves, we’d love to hear from you.
£14.15 per hour
Full-time, permanent
Based at Roots Café, Rougham Estate
Free on-site parking and staff discounts
Interested? Find out more and apply via Indeed on link in our bio.
#RoughamEstate #WeAreHiring #CafeJobs #HospitalityJobs #SuffolkJobs
Don’t miss our penultimate Plant Pop-Up of the season!
Chris from @watsons_plants will be back at Blackthorpe Barn this weekend, Friday 11th and Saturday 12th September, with a great selection of quality plants and plenty of expert advice.
If you’re thinking about giving your garden a refresh for autumn, this is a great chance to speak to Chris about what to plant, where to plant it and how to keep your garden looking its best as the seasons change.
The Plant Pop-Up is free to visit and there’s no need to book. You’ll find Chris just outside Roots Café and the Rougham Estate Shop, from 10am–4pm.
And with just one more Plant Pop-Up after this one, don’t miss out!
#RoughamEstate #WatsonsPlants
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