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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
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

See map

Pricing:

Free admission and parking, no booking needed

Pumpkins and gourds priced according to size 75p - £12

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.
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!!

And if you’re interested in eating your pumpkins (all our pumpkins are edible, but not the gourds), we have 4 recipes you can try, further down this page.

Important information

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Free entry

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Free tickets must be booked for the SEN sessions, 9am-10am on 27th and 29th of October.
The headsets for the silent discos also need to be booked.
Otherwise – no booking needed!

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Well-behaved dogs are welcome on the picnic area and must be kept on a short lead at all times. They are also welcome in the little doggy pumpkin patch near the entrance.
Dogs are not allowed into the main pumpkin area due to previously having had to clean up too much mess. Please bring and use poop-bags.

Assistance dogs are welcome everywhere.

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Both are accepted around the site. Admission and parking are free. No booking needed

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Picnicking is encouraged, with plenty of blanket spots on the grassy area, or use the benches and deckchairs if you prefer.

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Catering will be available, offering street-food, sandwiches, coffees, snacks, drinks and ice cream.

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Toilet facilities are available, including an accessible toilet with baby-changing facilities.

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You are welcome to come with a wheelchair or pram or buggy. Please be aware that this is a field; the ground is uneven in places and muddy if it has rained recently. There are wood chips on the ground in places of heavy footfall.

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Face-painting will be available each day, by the talented Face It Face Painting (£5 per face).

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There are plenty of props around the field to help you get some great pictures. If you post your pictures online, tag us @roughamestate on instagram and facebook or #roughampumpkins – we love to see them! For professional photoshoots, please see below.

Picking your Pumpkins

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Take a wheelbarrow when you arrive

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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!

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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.

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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.

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Take your pumpkins to your car

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Bring the wheelbarrow back for the next person to use

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Please Note: The pumpkins can be eaten, but the gourds are not edible.

We have some recipes you might like to try, lower down this page.

Pumpkins House 4

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

Pumpkin Recipes

01

Pumpkin Pie

Ingredients

  • 750g pumpkin peeled, de-seeded and cut into chunks
  • 350g sweet shortcut pastry
  • Plain flour, for dusting
  • 140g castor sugar
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp fresh nutmeg, grated
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 25g butter, melted
  • 175ml milk
  • 1 tbsp icing sugar

Method

  • Place the pumpkin in a large saucepan, cover with water and bring to the boil. Cover with a lid and simmer for 15 mins or until tender. Drain pumpkin and let it cool.
  • Heat oven to 180C, 160C fan, gas mark 4. Roll out the pastry on a lightly-floured surface and use it to line a 22cm loose-bottomed tart tin. Chill for 15 mins. Line the pastry with baking parchment and baking beans, then bake for 15 mins. Remove the beans and paper and cook for a further 10 mins until the base is pale golden and biscuity. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly.
  • Increase the oven to 220C, 200C fan, gas mark 7. Push the cooled pumpkin through a sieve into a large bowl. In a separate bowl combine the sugar, salt, nutmeg and half the cinnamon. Mix in the beaten eggs, melted butter and milk, then add to the pumpkin puree and stir to combine. Pour into the tart shell and cook for 10 mins, then reduce the temperature to 180C, 160C fan, gas mark 4. Continue to bake for 35-40 mins until the filling has just set.
  • Leave to cool, then remove the pie from the tin. Mix the remaining cinnamon with the icing sugar and dust over the pie. Serve chilled.

02

Pumpkin & Roast Almond Soup

Ingredients

  • 150g blanched almonds
  • 1½kg pumpkin or butternut squash
  • 50ml olive oil
  • 3 cloves of garlic, peeled and crushed
  • 1litre chicken stock, hot

Method

  • Preheat the oven to 180°C, gas mark 4. Lay the almonds on a baking tray and roast for 10 minutes until golden.
  • Using a sharp knife, peel away the skin and then halve and deseed the pumpkin. Cut it into large chunks then coarsely grate with a box grater or food processor fitted with a grater attachment.
  • Heat the oil in a large, heavy-based pan, add the garlic and fry gently for about a minute until golden. Increase the temperature, add the grated pumpkin and almonds and fry for 10 minutes, stirring continuously. If the pumpkin starts to dry out at any point, add a ladleful of chicken stock.
  • Add any remaining stock and simmer for 5 minutes. Take the pan off the heat and leave to cool for a few minutes.
  • Blend the soup in batches in a liquidiser until smooth then return to the pan and reheat gently. Divide between warm bowls and serve garnished with toasted almonds or pumpkin seeds.

Based on Waitrose recipe, 2026

03

Pumpkin Savoury Traybake

Ingredients

  • 500g butternut squash or pumpkin, peeled and cut into 2.5cm chunks
  • 1 red onion, cut into wedges
  • 1½ tbsp olive oil
  • ½ tsp cumin seeds
  • ½ tsp hot smoked paprika
  • 2 clove/s garlic
  • 150g whole leaf kale or spinach, stems removed, leaves torn
  • 250g pack halloumi, sliced
  • 1 unwaxed lemon, zest and juice
  • 1 tsp capers

Method

  • Preheat the oven to 220°C, gas mark 7. Put the pumpkin or squash and onion into a large roasting tin with ½ tbsp oil, the cumin and paprika, then season and toss together. Roast for 20 minutes or until tender. Reduce the oven temperature to 200°C, gas mark 6.
  • Add the garlic and kale/spinach to another tin, drizzle with ½ tbsp oil and season. Add the halloumi to the squash tin, then roast both tins for 15-20 minutes more until everything is golden.
  • Squeeze the garlic out of the skins and into a small bowl. Mash with a fork, then whisk in the lemon zest and juice, capers and remaining oil. Tip the kale/spinach into the squash tin, drizzle over the dressing, stir, then divide between 2 plates.

Based on Waitrose recipe, 2026

04

Pumpkin & Ginger Cupcakes

Ingredients

  • 275g pumpkin (or butternut squash), peeled and deseeded
  • 30g root ginger, grated
  • 100g slightly salted butter, softened
  • 100g light brown muscovado sugar
  • 2 medium free range Eggs
  • 175g self-raising flour
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • 50g sultanas
  • 250g creamy soft cheese
  • 50g icing sugar

Method

  • Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C, gas mark 4. Line 18 sections of 2 x 12-hole cake trays with fairy cake cases (or bake in 2 batches).
  • Dice the pumpkin and cook in boiling water for 15 minutes until tender. Drain thoroughly and return to the saucepan. Mash well. Sandwich between plenty of sheets of kitchen paper and press down firmly so the paper absorbs the moisture.
  • Put the ginger, butter, sugar, eggs, flour and baking powder in a mixing bowl and beat with an electric whisk until smooth and creamy. Beat in the pumpkin puree and sultanas briefly to mix.
  • Spoon into the cases, filling them three- quarters full, then bake for 20 minutes until risen and springy to the touch. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
  • Beat a 250g tub creamy soft cheese in a bowl with 50g icing sugar. Spread over the cakes.

Based on Waitrose recipe, 2026

Rougham Sunflower and Pumpkin Field, south of A14, Junction 45

Address: Rougham Sunflower and Pumpkin Field
Elderstub Lane, Rougham,
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
SatNav: postcode IP30 9HX
Parking:

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.

Directions:

The field is just east of Bury St. Edmunds, easily accessible from the A14 and clearly sign-posted from Junction 45.

How to get there

From J45, A14 Eastbound Carriageway:

  1. turn left (first exit) on the roundabout at the end of the A14 slip road
  2. go under the A14 bridge
  3. at the T junction turn right, by the white house and entrance to Blackthorpe Barn
  4. follow this lane for about half a mile until you reach Elderstub Lane on the left
  5. turn left down Elderstub Lane and the entrance is about 150yds on the right

From the J45, A14 Westbound Carriageway:

  1. turn right at the end of the A14 slip road
  2. at the T junction turn right, by the white house and entrance to Blackthorpe Barn
  3. follow this lane for about half a mile until you reach Elderstub Lane on the left
  4. turn left down Elderstub Lane and the entrance is about 150yds on the right
Is there an entrance fee?

There is no entrance fee – the field is free to visit

Do I need to book to visit the pumpkin patch?

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.

Is there free parking?

Yes, there is plenty of free parking in the field with the sunflowers and pumpkins.

Are there toilets at the 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.

Can I bring my dog to the pumpkins?

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.
What do I need to wear to the pumpkin field?

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.

Can I bring a buggy or pram to the field?

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.

Is the field suitable for wheelchairs?

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.

Can I buy food and drink at 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.

Do you accept cards or cash at the pumpkin patch?

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.

Can I bring a picnic to the field?

Yes, there are plenty of picnicking spots. Bring a blanket and a picnic, and enjoy your time here.

Can I bring a picnic to the evening events?

Unfortunately no picnics are allowed after 5pm, when the evening events start.

Can I eat the pumpkins?

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.
There are some recipes available at the patch, or we have 4 recipes further up this pumpkin web-page.

Where have your pumpkins and gourds been grown?

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.

Do you have a recipe for pumpkin pie?

Yes, we have a recipe for a tasty pumpkin pie at the field, or find one online.

Do you have baby-changing facilities?

Yes, there is a baby-changing unit in one of the portaloos

What are the SEN-friendly sessions?

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.

Do you have wheelbarrows at the pumpkin field?

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.

Is there an age restriction on face painting?

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.

Can you open the field out-of-hours for my group?

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.

Can I put in an order for you to bulk-pick pumpkins for my event?

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.

Why has the sunflower and pumpkin field moved?

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.

Can I take photos at the field?

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.

Can I take drone photography of the field?

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.

What happens to the remaining pumpkins when the field closes?

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.

Never miss a thing

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Our final Plant Pop-Up of the year!

Chris from Watsons Plants will be back at Blackthorpe Barn this Friday and Saturday, 25–26 September, for the last Plant Pop-Up of the season.

If you’re looking to add some colour, texture or interest to your garden as we head into autumn, this is your final chance to come along, browse the plants and speak to Chris for some expert advice.

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.

So if you’ve been meaning to pop along, don’t miss the last one of the year!

#RoughamEstate #WatsonsPlants #PlantPopUp #Gardening #AutumnGarden

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Today marks the Autumn Equinox - the moment autumn officially begins.

It’s one of those quiet turning points in the year, when the Sun crosses the celestial equator and we experience roughly equal hours of day and night.

And while we often think of the equinox as giving us exactly 12 hours of each, it’s not quite that simple - which makes it all the more fascinating.

For centuries, this seasonal shift has been closely linked with harvest time, gratitude, and preparing for the darker months ahead. It’s the point where summer gently gives way, and autumn begins to settle in.

From today onwards, the nights gradually grow longer than the days.

So here’s to crisp mornings, turning leaves, cosy corners, coffee in hand, and all the quiet beauty that autumn brings. 🤎

#AutumnEquinox #HelloAutumn #RoughamEstate #AutumnAtRougham #ChangingSeasons 

* Picture taken at Rougham Estate on Tuesday 22 September

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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

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