Pick Your Own Sunflowers 2023

NOW CLOSED

Could there be anything better than strolling through vibrant blooms of sunflowers, picking to your heart’s content? Or sitting by a sea of yellow with your loved ones, enjoying a summer’s picnic?
Well… you can do it at Rougham Estate!

Rougham Estate is open once again, inviting visitors to enjoy the wonderful display of this summer’s sunflowers.

• Free admission and parking
• Picnicking encouraged
• Cold drinks, ice cream and snacks available
• Toilet facilities
• No booking needed

We look forward to welcoming you! Keep your fingers crossed for good weather…

We had the best day! What you guys do is just incredible so thank you! … It’s such a magical place you create. You truly do such good work. We saw nothing but smiles today from everyone there – TCF

Here’s a glimpse of what it looked like in 2022; video by Troy Productions:

Rustic Charm

The sunflowers are in the same field as in 2022, retaining the same simple rustic charm and offering plenty of photo opportunities, as well as the joy of time outside in the countryside.

We will lend you a pair of secateurs if you need them, for a small refundable deposit, to help you cut your chosen sunflowers to enjoy at home, or bring your own (and don’t forget gloves).

A day out in the Suffolk countryside

Came with my 2 grandchildren yesterday for the first time. We had a great afternoon, the children loved it and were very upset to have to leave. We will be back for sure. And the sunflowers are amazing – SF

Come and enjoy a day in the countryside with room for children to run and climb, space to picnic by a sea of yellow blooms, deckchairs, sandpits for little ones and snacks and ice cream on offer.

Free admission and parking!

Location and Facilities

This golden sunflower field is in Rougham, just east of Bury St. Edmunds in Suffolk.

It is easily accessible and will be clearly sign-posted from Junction 45 of the A14. Detailed directions below.

There is plenty of free parking, and toilet facilities near the entrance.

Picnicking is encouraged and catering will also be available from the fabulous local Folk About cafe.

There will be other offerings too, including face-painting each day, by the talented Face It Face Painting (£5 per face).

Watch this webpage and our social media for updates.

Directions

This year’s field of sunflowers is in the same location as in 2022.

Take Junction 45 from the A14, just East of Bury St. Edmunds and follow our signage.

From the Eastbound Carriageway:

• turn right at the roundabout at the end of the A14 slip road
• go up the north carriageway of Sow Lane
• fully around the roundabout at the top
• back down the south carriageway of Sow Lane
• turn right off Sow Lane into the grass parking.

From the Westbound Carriageway:

• turn left at the end of the A14 slip road
• under the bridge
• straight over the first roundabout
• go up the north carriageway of Sow Lane
• fully around the roundabout at the top
• back down the south carriageway of Sow Lane
• turn right off Sow Lane into the grass parking.

Location

What3words: commit.submerged.bombard

Google Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/geKLforxCQ95FK6J7

Postcode: There is no postcode for the field itself, but the postcode for the nearby industrial estate is IP30 9ND
Note: this is NOT the postcode for the sunflower field, but will get you near to the A14, Junction 45 roundabout. See the picture above and follow the sunflower signs from the A14, J45 roundabout.

 Opening Times

The sunflower field is open every day from 9am – 5pm.

Entry & Parking: Free

Closing Date

The field will close at the end of Sunday 20th August.

Your Visit

When you visit the sunflower field you will be directed by a member of staff to park. We have ample parking on grass.

Toilet facilities are available, including an accessible toilet with baby change unit.

Wheelchairs

The field is accessible to wheelchairs and the paths through the sunflowers are wide enough for a wheelchair. Please be aware that it is a field so the ground can be uneven in places or muddy if it has been raining recently. There are bark chippings at the entrance to the field. An accessible portaloo toilet is at the side of the field. 

Great effort again this year. The staff are amazing too! – JOL

Dogs are Welcome in the Picnic Area

Dogs are welcome to come and visit the picnic area of the sunflower field, as long as they are well-behaved and kept on a short lead at all times.

Don’t forget to bring poop-bags, which must be used when required, and to take any waste away with you.

For the last few days that the sunflowers are open the maze gets very busy, so dogs are no longer allowed into the maze. 

This is a family-friendly location and many families with small children visit. Little children need to be safe, and feel safe here. Please remember that dogs can be intimidating to people not used to them.

Pathways and Props

We have cut pathways through the sunflowers to make it easy for you to explore the area and to wander through the field. Along the way there are props to help you get some great pictures.

If you post your pictures online, tag us with #roughamsunflowers and @roughamestate on instagram and facebook – we love to see them!

For small children there is a bug-hunt challenge, to give them something to search for while walking around.

I couldn’t recommend enough we had such a lovely day yesterday. – AC

The sunflower field is on private land, owned by Rougham Estate. We are pleased to welcome visitors to enjoy the sunflowers for free. However, if you would like to use the sunflowers for any commercial/for-profit photography, please see the information below about booking a photoshoot.

Food

Picnicking is encouraged with plenty of picnic spots on a grassy area; bring along your picnic blankets if you wish. There are also benches and deckchairs if you’d rather not sit on the ground.

Daily catering, including sandwiches, toasted sandwiches, sweet treats and sunflower biscuits, is available from the wonderful Folk About café if you’d rather get something tasty at the field, and for hot days and treats we have ice cream, both for people and for dogs!

Perfect for Picking!

The sunflowers are perfect for displaying at home. You can pick your own beautiful bunches of Sunflowers whilst meandering through the cut-out paths.

Secateurs can be borrowed, if you forget yours, for a small refundable deposit which will be deducted from the sale. Do remember to bring some gloves too, if you need them.

When you are ready to leave, head to the gazebo where a helpful member of staff will charge you according to how many stems you have cut.

Stems are charged:

• £2 each
• £8 for 5 stems
• £12 for 10 stems

Payment by card is preferable although we will be taking cash.

See our tips below for keeping your sunflowers looking good in a vase.

Leaving the Sunflower Field

We operate a one-way system for all visitors arriving by car: look out for Exit signs that will direct you back to the public road.

Please note: the exit road is a left-hand turn only and the signpost will point you in the right direction.

Tips for Looking After Cut Sunflowers

When you get your cut sunflowers home, here are some tips to help them last for as long as possible:

• Get your sunflowers into water as soon as possible after cutting
• Cut the stems at a 45 degree angle to help with hydration; if possible, cut the stem underwater
• Remove all leaves below the water line; only keep the leaves near the flower
• Fill the vase with warm water up to about 3/4 of the height of the stem
• Top up the water daily, or better, change all the water in the vase daily (do this at least every 3 days)
• Recut the stems after a few days (or do this daily), to help with hydration
• Don’t expose the cut flowers to direct sunlight, heat or drafts
• If the sunflower head is beginning to droop, cut the stem shorter and put the flower in warm water (try adding 2-3 teaspoons of sugar to the water). Another trick is to cut a short length of straight garden wire (4-5cm) and push it through the centre of the flower, into the stem, to give it some support
• Sunflowers like a slightly acidic water solution with sugars for nutrition; try adding a teaspoon of sugar and two tablespoons of lemon juice (or a tablespoon of vinegar) to the water

Photography

The Sunflowers 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.

All professional, commercial, for-profit, paid-for or “organised” photoshoots require a license and must be pre-booked and authorised by Rougham Estate. Rougham Estate is private land, and you must have a licence to use the land for commercial gain.

Drone use is strictly prohibited unless pre-arranged and authorised by Rougham Estate. It must be undertaken during hours that the site is not open to the public and will incur a fee.

Requests to privately open any part of the sunflower field must be pre-arranged with Rougham Estate 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 at the mini-sunflowers, please contact Amie:

Amie Deane T: 01359 270238 E: amie@roughamestate.com

This event is brought to you by Rougham Estate