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
Pumpkins by Torchlight & Silent Disco
Sat 17 October 6pm-9pm
Sat 24 October 6pm-9pm
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 thousands and thousands of pumpkins, squashes and gourds in over 20 different varieties; in a huge array of different sizes and glorious colours, all just waiting to be picked exactly where they have grown
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 available each day we are open.
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
GeeGeeBakes – Delicious cheesecakes, crumbles 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
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.
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 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, a coffee 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.
Yes, there is plenty of free parking in the fields next to the sunflower and pumpkin field
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.
Since the evening events are ticketed food events, unfortunately no picnics are allowed after 5pm, when the evening event starts.
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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Join us for a day of weaving, nature and quiet creativity at Blackthorpe Barn.
This September, come and learn from textile artist Caroline Hyde-Brown and enjoy a beautiful day of making.
The Wild Weave workshop guides you through the art of weaving with wild grasses and freshly grown flowers on a mini hand-held loom. No experience needed, just a love of nature and a willingness to slow down and make something with your hands.
You’ll choose your raw materials from a posy prepared by Caroline, learn to weave and by the end of the day you’ll have your very own unique piece of wild art to take home and display.
Caroline will also share her knowledge of foraging, medicinal herbs and how the hedgerow has inspired her own practice, making this day as much about the stories behind the craft as the making itself.
📅 10am-4pm on Saturday 26th September
📍 The Meadow Room, Blackthorpe Barn
🎟️ £75 per person
Limited places - book on our website, link in profile.
#RoughamEstate #burystedmunds #TextileArt #NatureCraft #SuffolkEvents
As we head back to school and autumn starts to creep in, it’s hard to believe that our Pick Your Own Pumpkin Patch opens in just a month!
The pumpkins are growing nicely, as you can see, and we’re busy getting everything ready for another brilliant pumpkin season here at Rougham Estate.
It won’t be long until the fields are full of pumpkins and you can come and pick your perfect one.
Who’s already looking forward to pumpkin season?
#RoughamEstate #PickYourOwnPumpkins #PumpkinPatch
There are a couple of irresistible new specials at Roots Café this week!
Salad of the week:
Maple and sage roasted root vegetables with candied pecans, herby ciabatta croutons, crumbled Suffolk blue cheese and a maple and orange dressing.
Brunch Dish
Eton mess French toast topped with end-of-summer berries, strawberry granola, coulis, meringue and a white chocolate glaze.
Both of these temptations are on the menu this week only!
Come and enjoy at Roots Café, open daily 9am - 4pm
#roughamestate #burystedmunds #suffolkfoodie
What a month August has been!
Such an incredible summer we’ve been blessed with, and it’s certainly been a busy one here at Rougham Estate. It’s sad to say goodbye!
But now we turn our attention to September, with autumn vibes starting to creep in. We’re looking forward to everything the next month brings!
#RoughamEstate #AugustAtRougham #SummerAtRougham
Looking for somewhere to enjoy the Bank Holiday weekend?
Come and spend some time at Rougham Estate. Take in the beautiful Sunken Garden as you enjoy great food and drink from Roots Café for some great food, coffee - perhaps before or after exploring the Estate’s walking routes to build up an appetite!
Don’t forget to have a browse around our Lifestyle Shop too, where you might find something special to take home, and Chris from @watsons_plants is with us too, selling his beautiful plants in the courtyard.
Whether you’re looking for a relaxing stroll, a family day out or simply somewhere to enjoy a good lunch, there’s plenty to discover at Rougham Estate.
Find out more from the link in our bio.
#RoughamEstate #BankHolidayWeekend #VisitSuffolk
Art, creativity and a beautiful setting come together at Blackthorpe Barn this September.
The @artworkseast exhibition returns for its 26th year, bringing together 30 established artists from across East Anglia, with a fantastic collection of contemporary 2D and 3D work on display.
From colourful abstract pieces and botanical illustrations to landscapes, portraits, ceramics and sculpture, there’s plenty to discover, and all of the work is available to buy.
There will also be opportunities to meet the artists and see them demonstrating their work, alongside the popular Mini Artworks Prize Draw, which supports the Artworks Schools Programme and an East Anglian charity.
So pop it in your diary:
12–27 September
10am–4pm daily
Blackthorpe Barn, Rougham Estate
Free entry and plenty of free parking.
Find out more on our website, or from @artworkseast
All these images are from past exhibitions.
#RoughamEstate #BlackthorpeBarn #ArtworksEast #ArtExhibition
There’s still time to make the most of your garden before summer comes to an end.
As we move towards autumn, it’s the perfect time to add colour, texture and interest to your outdoor space, whether you’re looking to refresh a border, fill a few gaps or simply find something new to enjoy.
Don’t miss @watsons_plants here at Rougham Estate this weekend and Monday. Chris will be here to offer advice and inspiration on choosing the right plants and making the most of your garden as the seasons change.
Pop by, have a browse and get your garden ready for autumn.
#RoughamEstate #WatsonsPlants #Gardening
Looking for something to do with the family as we head into the last few weeks of the summer holidays?
Rougham Estate has ancient woodlands waiting to be explored. With winding paths, towering trees and plenty of nature to spot along the way, it’s a world of discovery for children, grown-ups and dogs alike.
It’s a great way to get some fresh air, stretch your legs and enjoy the Estate together before the summer holidays come to an end. You can also stop for a treat at Roots Cafe after!
#RoughamEstate #AncientWoodland #SuffolkWalks #FamilyDaysOut
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