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SEN-friendly Sunflower Sessions
Key details
When:
Date:
Time:
28th Jul
09:00 - 10:00
30th Jul
09:00 - 10:00
4th Aug
09:00 - 10:00
6th Aug
09:00 - 10:00
11th Aug
09:00 - 10:00
13th Aug
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.Limited tickets available for each hour.Please book your free ticket for your group (no card needed) to secure your time slot.
Book 1 ticket for your whole group. You do not need 1 ticket for each person in your group.
Ticket booking closes at midday on the day before the session
Sunflower stems are charged:
£2 each £8 for 5 stems £12 for 10 stems
Rougham Sunflowers: the SEN-friendly sessions
New for 2026! This year we have ticketed times for 2 SEN-friendly hours each week at the Rougham Sunflowers.
Each week on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 9am and 10am, the sunflower field 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 Sunflower Field without booking. Find out all the sunflower 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 sunflower field has wide pathways through the sunflowers and wheelchair-friendly picnic benches. However, please note this is a large field and the ground is uneven after this prolonged sunny weather 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.
Location
The sunflowers are in a new field for 2026. 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 Tuesdays and Thursdays between 9am – 10am the field will only be open to those who have pre-booked a tickets for the special SEN-friendly hours. This starts on Tuesday 28th July and will continue for approximately 3 weeks until the sunflowers begin to fade.
The field usually stays open for 2-3 weeks; the closing date will be determined according to how the sunflower blooms are holding up.
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 bug-hunt challenge to keep little ones occupied, ice cream and 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 pathway for dogs through the sunflowers; they are not allowed in the main maze due to having had too much to clean up in previous years. There is even some ice cream for dogs available from the onsite café.
Please make sure that your dog doesn’t spoil the enjoyment of other visitors at the event or block any passageways.
No Smoking
Due to the weather and the extreme dryness this year, please note that the field is a No Smoking area.
Important information
Please click the “Book Your Hour Time Slot” button or the “Book Now” button to start the booking process.
The ticket is free and you don’t need to give in any card details to secure your ticket, but please do complete the checkout process in order to receive your ticket by email.
If you don’t need to visit during the SEN-friendly hours, you are welcome to come at any other time, no booking needed – just come along!
- Well-behaved dogs are welcome on the picnic area and must be kept on a short lead at all times. There is a separate pathway especially for dogs through the sunflowers, but due to previously having had to clean up too much mess, no dogs are allowed into the main sunflower maze. Please bring and use poop-bags.
This year the Rougham Sunflower field will open on Monday 27th July.
The sunflower field usually closes about 2-3 weeks after it opens, but the actual closing date depends on how the flowering season goes.
Cards and Cash are both accepted around the site. Admission and parking are free.
Picnicking is encouraged, with plenty of blanket spots on the grassy area, or use the benches and deckchairs if you prefer.
Catering will be available, offering coffees, snacks, drinks and ice cream.
Toilet facilities are available near the entrance of the field, including an accessible toilet with baby-changing facilities.
The field is accessible for wheelchairs and prams, with wide pathways through the sunflowers and wheelchair-friendly picnic benches.
However, please be aware that this is a field and the ground is uneven in places, especially after the prolonged sunny weather and it can be muddy if it has recently rained.
Face-painting by the talented Face It Face Painting will be available; £5 per face for ages 3 and above.
Gallery
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Things to Bring
- Secateurs; bring your own or borrow some from us for a small refundable deposit
- Gloves, if you need them; sunflower stems are prickly
- Wellies if it’s rained recently
- Cash or Card; admission and parking are free, but you may like to buy some sunflowers, a coffee or get your child’s face painted. Card is preferred, but cash is accepted
- Picnic and Picnic Blanket, if you like
- Camera for taking pictures; tag us @roughamestate
Please Note
We will do our very best to make sure that the sunflowers are 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
This year the sunflower field will open on Monday 27th July 2026.
The sunflower field opens when the sunflowers start to bloom each year and we can’t pinpoint the exact date until a week or so before opening, since the flowers respond to the weather we are having at the time.
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.
The sunflower field generally stays open for about 2-3 weeks after opening, depending upon the weather. We close the field when the sunflowers are starting to be past their best. We will put a notification of the closing date on this page and on our social media, when we know more.
Sunflowers only bloom for a few weeks a year, and we open the field for those weeks.
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.
There is no entrance fee – the field is free to visit
You don’t need to book to visit the sunflowers, just come along.
However, there are ticketed SEN-friendly sessions on Tuesday and Thursday mornings 9am – 10am. During these times only people with booked tickets will be given entrance to the field.
Ticket numbers are limited for these times and they are perfect for those who benefit from quieter surroundings, predictable routines and a slower pace.
After 10am on Tuesdays and Thursdays there is free entry for the general public, with no booking needed, as usual.
Yes, there is plenty of free parking in the field with the sunflowers and pumpkins.
Well-behaved dogs on short leads are welcome on the grass in the picnic area of the sunflower field and this year there is a path through the sunflowers where dogs are welcome.
Unfortunately, due to having had to clean up after too many dogs, no dogs are allowed inside the main sunflower maze at all, even if carried, and they are not allowed in the sandpits or on the bale pyramids.
- 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.
Yes, you can pick the sunflowers at the field and you will be charged according to the prices on this page. Bring your own secateurs and gloves, or use our secateurs for a small deposit.
We prefer cards, but accept both cards and cash at every payment area on the field, including for the sunflowers, nature hunt, sunflower seeds, 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.
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.
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.
If it’s been dry recently, you don’t need any special clothing or footwear to visit the sunflower field. Don’t forget your sunscreen if it’s very sunny since there isn’t much shade at the field and bring water if you like. If it’s been very dry the field can be dusty.
If it’s been raining recently, the ground may be muddy and you may want to consider wearing wellies.
There are plenty of tips on how to keep your sunflowers looking good on this page. The most important thing is to keep them in water as much as you can. We have a sunflower creche of buckets of water for you to use while you are enjoying your time 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.
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.
Unfortunately we don’t have the facilities to bulk-pick sunflowers for events. If you would like to come and pick the sunflowers 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.
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.
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The menu includes a fresh corner with granola, overnight oats and fruit bowls, alongside our traditional fry-ups and a wider choice of brunch dishes.
There are eggs and hollandaise with your choice of topping, avocado on sourdough, pulled chicken croissants and mushrooms on toast.
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Whether you’re stopping by for breakfast, meeting friends for lunch or warming up after a walk around the Estate, there’s plenty to enjoy at Roots Café this autumn and winter.
Open daily until 5pm now (4pm on Sundays), making a perfect pit stop after Christmas shopping at our Rougham Estate Christmas Shop.
#rootscafe #roughamestate #newmenu #burystedmunds
The moment we’ve been waiting for has finally arrived! 🎅🏼
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This year, we’re inviting you to step inside a Christmas story, with beautifully styled rooms, thousands of decorations, thoughtful gifts and festive inspiration around every corner.
From traditional Christmas charm to playful pops of colour and cosy alpine styling, there’s plenty to discover as you explore.
And this is just the beginning. Our Arts & Crafts Fair returns for five weekends from 14th November, bringing talented makers from across Britain, while Christmas tree sales begin on 20th November.
Roots Café is open daily until 5pm throughout the Christmas season (4pm on Sundays), so why not make a day of it with a coffee, something delicious to eat and a little festive shopping?
Whether you’re starting your Christmas preparations or simply looking for a lovely day out, we can’t wait to welcome you.
Come and step inside our Christmas story and let us know what you think!
Open Monday–Saturday, 9.30am–5pm
Sunday, 9.30am–4pm
Free entry and free parking.
#RoughamEstate #ChristmasAtRougham #BlackthorpeBarn
Tomorrow, the story begins!
The elves are packing up as we’re getting ready to welcome you into our Country Christmas Shop at Blackthorpe Barn.
Discover beautifully styled festive rooms, thousands of decorations, unique gifts and inspiration for your own Christmas. From traditional charm to contemporary colour and cosy alpine styling, there’s something to enjoy around every corner.
And when you need a festive pit stop, Roots Café will be ready to welcome you, too.
We open tomorrow, Monday 19 October!
Opening times:
Monday–Saturday, 9.30am–5pm
Sunday, 9.30am–4pm
Free entry and free parking. We can’t wait to see you!
#RoughamEstate #ChristmasAtRougham #ChristmasShop
Wow - what a day we had yesterday!
From blue skies and sunshine, to a couple of short showers followed by a stunning rainbow, and ending with the amazing Pumpkins by Torchlight.
@megan_rae_music put on a wonderful show in the afternoon and it was great to see those with silent disco headsets singing and dancing after dark.
All these pics were taken yesterday-did you get any good ones?
We are open again today, Sunday 18th October, 9am-5pm. There are still thousands upon thousands of pumpkins, all wanting to be chosen and taken home by you.
Please be careful driving to the patch this morning. The Bury half marathon is running under the A14 at Junction 45, where you turn off to come to us, so please drive very slowly there.
And just look at this feast selection of food we have for you at the patch today:
Roots&Co - venison and beef burgers, bagels, breakfast baps, soup, drinks including a bar - cider, lager, wine.
@whatthe_peck - Suffolk-reared fried chicken
@badboiburritos - toasted burritos
@pigs_in - from pulled pork to sausages and bacon
@tikka_tonic - New Delhi style street food
@itsotisbreading - sourdough toasties
@thecreperieshack - sweet & savoury crepes
@geegeebakes - cheesecakes, milkshakes & coffees
@fullthrottlecoffeeco - coffees
@greyscoffee_ - coffees and cakes
@kiernanscoffee - coffees, drinks & snacks at the Pitch in the Patch
Not forgetting face painting all day by @faceitfaceart .
Free entry, free parking, no booking needed. Satnav: IP30 9HX.
Then we are open again from 24th every day to 31st, 9am-5pm, with another Pumpkins by Torchlight with silent disco next Saturday, 24th. Last few headset tickets available.
On 27th and 29th, 9am-10am, we are holding SEN hours where entry is by ticket only.
Book all tickets on our website.
Come along and enjoy the great autumnal outdoors.
We can’t wait to see you 🎃👋
All the details on our website.
#roughampumpkins #roughamestate #suffolkevents #burystedmunds
Have you been to Rougham Pumpkins yet? Now is the time to visit (again)!
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Pumpkins by Torchlight and the Silent Disco. Free entry, no booking needed to come for the evening. All headsets now booked, but there’ll be a waiting list at the event.
There’s another Silent Disco and Pumpkins by Torchlight on 24th.
Open 9am-5pm on Saturday and Sunday: free entry, free parking, no booking needed.
Games, bale pyramids, room to run and play, thousands of pumpkins, face painting by @faceitfaceart , plenty of photo ops, thousands of pumpkins waiting to be picked.
🍔Look at the huge range of fabulous food here this weekend.
Here both days as well as Saturday evening:
Roots&Co - venison burgers, beef burgers, bagels, baps, crumble, drinks including a bar - cider, lager, wine.
@whatthe_peck - Suffolk-reared fried chicken
@BadBoiBurritos - toasted burritos
@ItsOtisBreading - sourdough toasties
@tikka_tonic - New Delhi style street food
@thecreperieshack - sweet & savoury crepes
@GeeGeeBakes - cheesecakes, milkshakes & coffees
@fullthrottlecoffeeco - coffees
These trucks are here both days this weekend:
@pigs_in - all your pork favourites
@KiernansCoffee - coffees, drinks & snacks at the Pitch in the Patch
Joining us on Sunday 18th:
@greyscoffee_ - coffees and cakes
🎃Find the Pumpkin Patch on Elderstub Lane, Rougham - SatNav IP30 9HX.
Maps and directions on our website.
You are welcome to stay between 5pm-6pm on Saturday but please be aware we will be rearranging the area and you may need to move. The food trucks will close for a break and some will be leaving the patch, so be particularly careful at this time.
On Sunday morning, the Bury St Edmunds half-marathon will be going down Sow Lane from Junction 45, A14, past the entrance to Blackthorpe Barn. Please drive very slowly while runners are there.
The pumpkins are open again 24th-31st Oct every day 9am-5pm, with bookable SEN hours on 27th and 29th.
See you here!🎃
#burystedmunds #suffolkevents #roughamestate
Rougham Pumpkins are open this weekend, 17th & 18th October, and we’re pulling out all the stops.
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Face painting by @faceitfaceart
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Some tickets still available and going fast.
Book via the link in our bio.
🍔Look at the huge range of tasty fabulous food trucks here this weekend.
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Roots&Co - bagels, baps, crumble, cakes, drinks including a bar
@whatthe_peck - Suffolk-reared fried chicken
@BadBoiBurritos - toasted burritos
@ItsOtisBreading - sourdough toasties
@TheCreperieShack - sweet & savoury crepes
@GeeGeeBakes - cheesecakes, milkshakes & coffees
@FullThrottleCoffeeCo - coffees
These trucks are here both days this weekend:
@Pigs_In - all your pork favourites
@Tikka_Tonic - New Delhi style street food
@KiernansCoffee - coffees, drinks & snacks by the swing and pyramid at the Pitch in the Patch
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@GreysCoffee_ - coffees and cakes
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🎃Find the Pumpkin Patch on Elderstub Lane, Rougham - SatNav IP30 9HX.
Maps and directions on our website.
🏃On Sunday morning, the Bury St Edmunds half-marathon will be going down Sow Lane from Junction 45, A14, and past the entrance to Blackthorpe Barn. Please drive very slowly while runners are there.
Then the patch is open for the last time, daily from 24th-31st October, with another evening event on the 24th. All the details from our website.
See you soon!
#roughampumpkins #suffolkevents #burystedmunds #suff
5 days to go!
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From traditional charm to contemporary colour and cosy alpine styling, there’s plenty to discover at Blackthorpe Barn.
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#RoughamEstate #ChristmasAtRougham #ChristmasCountdown
One week today the magic of Christmas arrives at Blackthorpe Barn, here at Rougham Estate. ✨
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#RoughamEstate #ChristmasAtRougham #ChristmasShop #BlackthorpeBarn SuffolkChristmas
Tag us @RoughamEstate
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