Wednesday 27 June 2018

SUMMER: Strawberry Picking at Whetstone Pastures Farm in Leicestershire

SUMMER: Strawberry Picking at Whetstone Pastures Farm in Leicestershire
When it comes to the summer months there are a few activities we always like to do as a family and strawberry picking is one of them. The summer sun, smell of fresh strawberries and, of course, being able to indulge in the fruits of your labour all make for a fun family summer activity. Most Pick Your Own (PYO) farms open their doors to strawberry pickers in the first week or so of June, though it is very weather dependent as to when the first crops are ready. After a quick check to see if the crops were ready, we headed off on our first strawberry picking trip of the year last Sunday. 


For the past couple of years we've visited Whetstone Pastures Farm for berry picking, so it only felt right to keep up the tradition and visit again. The farm is in South Leicestershire and is set in 600 acres, so space is certainly not a problem. This is one thing we really like about visiting here; however busy it gets it never feels cramped or too busy. The rows upon rows of strawberry, gooseberry, raspberry, blackcurrant, redcurrants and blackberry plants ensure that there are plenty of deliciously ripe fruits to pick. Most of the fruits are grown on the ground, with no poly-tunnels or tables, which makes it very child-friendly but slightly back-breaking work!
On the farm there is a play barn, which costs £2.50 per child to enter and has various ride-on toys to enjoy though we've never used this facility. There is also Strawberry Tea Rooms serving a variety of drinks, cakes and light lunches, with ample outdoor seating its the perfect place to relax after being out in the fields picking berries. I really like that they support a variety of local businesses, such as serving Ringswood Ice-cream from Pailton, local eggs and crisps from Lincolnshire. 
Once you've picked all of the fruits you want to head over to the tills to have them weighed and priced up. Quite a few PYO farms have had to implement entry fees due to the number of people who enter solely to eat as much fruit as possible, which is so sad because it is essentially stealing. Whetstone Pastures Farm don't currently have an entry fee, which is a positive and I hope that people respect the rules and they never need to introduce one. We ended up picking one full punnet of strawberries and they cost £3.85, which I think is pretty reasonable as you get the experience and all of the juicy strawberries to enjoy when you get home. 
Whetstone Pastures Farm also host school visits, birthday parities and Make Your Own Wood Fired Pizza parities. I just wish my birthday was in the summer, so that I could have a pizza party followed by handpicked strawberries! The farm is open for PYO Tuesday to Sunday 10am-5.50pm.
If you've been strawberry picking and are struggling to think of what to do with them all then why not make a batch of these 3 Ingredient Strawberry & Mango Ice Lollies?

Have you been strawberry picking this year yet?

Feel free to leave a comment - I love reading every single one :)

Helen x
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19 comments

  1. What beautiful photos! I used to love going strawberry picking when I was little. I haven’t taken my boys yet but I think I will next year when they are a little older

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  2. this is the best experience ever - i used to love strawberry picking when i was a child

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  3. Such lovely photos of your little ones in the strawberry fields. We have a PYO fruit farm not far from us in Cardiff and it is always so lovely to pick the fruit yourself. It tastes so sweet and fresh. You have reminded me we need to pay a visit before Strawberry season is over! x

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  4. This farm is very local to me and I am hoping to take my little ones soon! Despite living nearby my whole life I've yet to go! Reading this has made me even more determined to visit! xxx

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  5. Ahhh this is one of my favourite things to do over the summer and it's reminded me that we must get out to our local PYO for a good old strawberry picking sesh!

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  6. It is definitely the perfect season to do this, such a cute little activity reminds me of my childhood

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  7. Gorgeous photos! I absolutely adore a PYO day out, I think we might be going tomorrow

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  8. We love strawberry picking in the summer too!! I love that this farm has a play barn for the kids too so you can make a bit more of a day of it. It’s a shame that some farms have started to need an entry fee, I hope people keep playing by the rules so your place doesn’t have to do that xx

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  9. ahh how much fun! We love strawberry picking, we haven't been this year but hopefully tomorrow!

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  10. We love to go strawberry picking every year and haven't made it to one yet, hopefully this weekend!

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  11. Strawberry picking is on our to-do list this summer!

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  12. Ahhhh beautiful! I've always threatened to go strawberry picking but never gotten around to it, so thank you for this post, we're going this weekend!!

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    1. The above content is from Vicky Sayle, it removed my name :(

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  13. Aww what a great place. I used to go with my Mum and Grandma all the time when I was little but I have never thought to take my children before. My Daughter would love this. Lovely photos.

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  14. We are yet to take our first trip to the strawberry fields this year. It's such a wonderful way to spend a few hours together

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  15. Strawberry picking is something I always wanted to do with our son in the UK but never got the chance to. Sounds like you had a good day and a reasonably priced punnet!

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  16. I like the sound of strawberry picking. Never done anything like this before. The kids would love it.

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  17. We love going strawberry picking in the summer time - wonderful photos and I'd eat all the ones we found! ;)

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  18. I say every year we are going to go strawberry picking with the kids but I don't seem to ever get round to it

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