Key details
When:
Date:
Time:
27th Oct
09:00 - 10:00
29th Oct
09:00 - 10:00
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.Please book your free ticket for your group (no card needed) to secure your time slot.
Book 1 ticket for your whole group. You don't need 1 ticket for each person. Tickets are free to book
Ticket bookings close on 25th and 27th respectively
Pumpkins are charged individually depending on the size.
75p - £12
Rougham Pumpkins: the SEN-friendly sessions
New for 2026! This year we have ticketed times for 2 SEN-friendly hours in the half term week at the Rougham Pumpkins.
On Tuesday 27th and Thursday 29th October between 9am and 10am, the pumpkin patch will only be open to those who have pre-booked tickets to come. These dedicated times are designed to provide a calm, supportive environment for individuals with Special Educational and Sensory Needs. The field will be open as usual to the wider public from 10am onwards on these days.
If you don’t need to come during the SEN-friendly hours, you are welcome to just come along to the Rougham Pumpkin Patch without booking. Find out all the pumpkin details here.
During these dedicated SEN-friendly times, visitor numbers are limited and background noise is reduced. These times are perfect for those who benefit from quieter surroundings, predictable routines and a slower pace. You are welcome to move around freely at the field, take breaks and engage in activities in a way that suits your needs.
The pumpkin patch has wide pathways through the pumpkins and wheelchair-friendly picnic benches. However, please note this is a large field and the ground is uneven after the long, hot sunny weather we have had, but will become muddy if it has recently rained.
Booking
Ticket numbers are limited for each morning session. They are free to book (no card needed) and you can bring helpers and carers with you as you need. When booking, please book 1 ticket per group (not per person) and let us know how many there will be in your group.
Please Note that while we do everything we can to ensure these sessions happen as planned, occasionally circumstances beyond our control may mean we are unable to open on the day. In the unlikely event this happens, we will contact ticket holders as soon as possible to let them know.
Location
The pumpkins are in a new field for 2026 – the same field as the sunflowers were in earlier this year. It’s just south of A14 Junction 45, about the same driving distance as the field last year. See the new location here.
Opening TIMES
On Tuesday 27th and Thursday 29th October, between 9am – 10am, the field will only be open to those who have pre-booked a tickets for the special SEN-friendly hours.
Things to do
There is plenty to enjoy with space to picnic including wheelchair-friendly benches, big bale pyramids to climb on, sandpits, football goals (please bring your own footballs), a nature-hunt challenge to keep little ones occupied, pedal tractors as well as lots of fabulous photo opportunities.
Face Painting
Face painting for children aged 3 years and older will be available most days from Face-It Face Painting (£5).
Snacks
Snacks and drinks will be provided by Roots&Co, an outlet of Roots Café, the café located at Blackthorpe Barn, 2 minutes’ drive away.
You are welcome to bring your own picnic with you too.
Dogs
Well-behaved dogs on short leads are welcome in the picnic area of the field. We have made a special little pumpkin patch for dogs; they are not allowed in the main pumpkin field due to having had too much to clean up in previous years.
Please make sure that your dog doesn’t spoil the enjoyment of other visitors at the event or block any passageways.
No Smoking
Please note that the whole pumpkin field is a No Smoking area.
Important information
Gallery

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
Please Note
We will do our very best to make sure that the pumpkin field is open at the time you have booked. However this is an outdoor field and sometimes weather and other reasons outside our control can mean that the field cannot be opened to the public at certain times.
Should we not be able to open the field for the time you have booked to visit, we will let you know as soon as possible, using the contact details you have given us.
What others say...
Rougham Sunflower and Pumpkin Field, south of A14, Junction 45
On arriving at the Sunflower and Pumpkin Field you will be directed by a member of staff to park; there is ample parking on grass.
The sunflowers and pumpkins are in a new field for 2026
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
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.
There is no entrance fee – the field is free to visit
Yes, there is plenty of free parking in the field with the sunflowers and pumpkins.
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.
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.
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 portaloos at the side of the field in the picnic area. There is also a baby-change unit and an accessible toilet.
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.
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.
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, there is a baby-changing unit in one of the portaloos
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.
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.
Yes, we have a recipe for a tasty pumpkin pie at the field, or find one online.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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
Never miss a thing
Follow us on instagram
ArtWorks @artworkseast is entering its second weekend, and then there’s just one more week to visit.
If you haven’t been yet, now is the time. Over 300 original works by 28 established East Anglian artists are on show at Blackthorpe Barn, including paintings, ceramics, sculpture, printmaking, mixed media and more. All of it available to buy and all of it made by artists who know their craft.
Come and browse at your own pace, meet the artists in person, watch them at work and find something that speaks to you. You can find the list of which artists are demonstrating each day on the @artworkseast website.
Whether you’re a seasoned collector or simply someone who loves great art, there’s plenty here to discover and inspire you.
📅 Open daily until Sunday 27th September
🕙 10am – 4pm
📍 Blackthorpe Barn on Rougham Estate - SatNav IP30 9HZ
🎟️ Free entry and free parking
🍰 Roots Café next door and the Rougham Estate Lifestyle Shop
🥾Walks around the Estate (see the Rougham Estate website for details)
See you soon!
#EastAnglianArtists #SuffolkArt #BuryStEdmunds #OriginalArt #RoughamEstate
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
Tag us @RoughamEstate
Series! - {{ series_id }}
Events:
SEN-friendly Pumpkin Sessions
Select a date:
Select a time:
Entrance fee
£{{price}}
Quantity
Number of tickets remaining: {{available_tickets}}
- {{error}}

* Please select a date and a time in order to book your ticket
* Book 1 ticket per group, not per person
* If a time and date are not available, those tickets have already been booked
* Complete the checkout process to secure your ticket (no card needed)
* If you are subsequently unable to attend, please let us know so we can release your ticket for someone else
Please wait whilst we process your order...
















































