Sunnyfields 'Pumpkington' Makes Headlines
For this year’s Pumpkin Time, Sunnyfields Farm have created a huge pumpkin Paddington as a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II which has featured in local and national newspapers and on local news channels.
Tom Nelson, helped by his father Ian Nelson and three other farmers, spent an entire day hauling 10,000 pumpkins and squash into place.
Tom explained: “It took 50 hours to design and mark out the 100ft wide mural and then the team of five spent ten hours putting it together. The design includes a variety called Crown Prince squash, which are placed on Paddington's shoulder, and it symbolises our thanks to Queen Elizabeth II - as Paddington has resonated with the farm team and with the public as a tribute.”
The display opened to the public on Saturday, 1st October, and Tom is expecting around 100,000 visitors to come and see the pumpkin Paddington at Sunnyfields Farm, Totton, near Southampton.
Every year Sunnyfields does a pumpkin display which has become very popular with visitor numbers increasing from 20,000 to 70,000 over the last three years.
The family farm, originally set up by Ian Nelson and his wife Louise in 1990, has now been growing pumpkin and squash for 30 years. Seven years ago, they began holding special pumpkin events modelled on the American trend for autumn pumpkin festivals. Sunnyfields Pumpkin Time runs throughout October and provides a memorable family day out with colourful autumnal displays and the opportunity to pick your own pumpkin from 30 different varieties of pumpkin and squash.
View the time lapse build of Paddington HERE.
To purchase tickets visit Sunnyfields website HERE.