Five Fantastic Places To Pick Your Own Fruit & Flowers

Even though the weather can’t be depended on for predictability, Norfolk’s agricultural heritage and increased diversification means there’s often a bounty of self-picking and pick-your-own experiences on your doorstep. 

Whether you’re looking for fresh fruit, beautiful blooms, or a fun day out with the family, these venues provide a hands-on connection to the farmland use in the East of England. While the weather’s good, we’ll explore five of the best and most recommended pick-your-own destinations in the county, each with its own unique charm and offerings.

Haha Farm, Strumpshaw, Norwich

East of Norwich, near the Norfolk Broads, Haha Farm has become a local favourite for its stunning sunflower fields in the summer, delightful foodie events and autumnal pumpkin picking.

This family-run farm offers a truly immersive experience beyond just picking flowers. For example, we were lucky enough to sample some of the tasty delights in a candlelit dining event at Haha’s Farm with delicious drinks and outsourced food catered by the amazing Little Pie Patisserie (well worth visiting Katie’s website and signing up to here mailing list for news and events) – a truly magical experience. 

The farm typically opens its golden fields of sunflowers for picking in late July or early August, depending on the growing season. It’s wise to check their social media for exact dates, as the sunflowers’ peak can be brief but spectacular.

What sets Haha Farm apart is its commitment to creating a full day out. Throughout the summer, they host various foodie events that showcase local produce and culinary talent. From pop-up pizza nights to artisanal ice cream tastings, there’s always something to tickle your taste buds. Haha have an annual Sunflower Golden Hour Dinner which sounds amazing for those wishing to combine a bit of pick-your-own with a romantic and casual three-course meal!

Best for: Sunflower picking, Instagram-worthy photos, and gourmet local food experiences which combine flower picking with live music, local food stalls, and family-friendly activities.

Free parking is available on-site, but it can get busy during peak sunflower season. It’s also worth noticing that if you’re going to the pumpkin picking event in the autumn, the car park can get very, very muddy!

Nearest recommended pub: For a post-picking refreshment, head to The Shoulder of Mutton in nearby Strumpshaw is a recommended venue that we’ve previously written about in our article on amazing places to see bluebells. This traditional country pub offers a warm welcome and a menu featuring locally sourced ingredients.

Grange Farm, Hockwold, Norfolk

Grange Farm in Hockwold offers a classic pick-your-own sunflower experience within a working farm. They host a wide variety of crops available throughout the growing season. The main event if often the sunflower festival, with stems at just 50p each last time we checked. Visitors will find this farm provides a changing palette of colours as the months progress with free parking.  Paths are free to roam (with dogs too) and the farm’s pick-your-own fields are huge, allowing visitors to spread out and take their time selecting the perfect cuts – just remember your secateurs. 

Best for: A wide variety of family-friendly picking and agricultural events. Their annual Pumpkin Festival is in October and the Sunflower Trail in August is complete with special catering events… see below.

Nearest recommended pub: Don’t bother venturing off-site, just time your visit in 2024 for their Wednesday evening sessions where you can pick some of the best blooms and enjoy resident stone-fired pizza, ice cream desserts and a bar from the Wellington Feltwell.

Sharrington Strawberries, Sharrington, North Norfolk

Synonymous with the Wimbledon tennis season strawberries are quintessentially British favourite. For those seeking out the plumpest and juiciest of these ruby red fruits, Sharrington Strawberries is a must-visit. Located on Holt Road, north of Norwich, this venue is ideal for those in the northern half of the county.

This charming farm specialises in producing some of the sweetest, juiciest strawberries in Norfolk, alongside raspberries blackberries, asparagus and the often over-looked tayberry. The picking fields at Sharrington are meticulously maintained, with neat rows of strawberry plants laden with fruit. 

Also of note, the farm has a small pre-picked shop on site allowing those in a hurry to conveniently collect as they pass. For an idyllic setting within the gently rolling Norfolk countryside, Sharington is a peaceful spot to spend part of a summer’s day. Parking is free and located on the site with clear signposting.

Best for: Premium quality strawberries stocked in many local stores due to popularity, easy picking, and a tranquil countryside setting. Visitors must try their tayberries if available. Larger than raspberries, and more floral in taste, tayberries are ideal for pies, crumbles or something new to try – the perfect treat after a picking session.

Nearest recommended pub: The King’s Head in Letheringsett, about a 10-minute drive away, offers excellent food in a picturesque setting just next to an old flour mill. It’s a great spot to relax after your strawberry-picking adventure with roasts, kids’ meals, or their gin of the week. Their Summer of Sounds event sees live music from 7pm for many Saturdays during the summer with food served from the King’s Garden Shack and even a bouncy castle to keep the kids entertained.

Fairgreen Farms, Middleton, Near Kings Lynn

Fairgreen Farms in Middleton offers PYO experience with a focus on the vitamin-rich blueberry. This farm grows these dark-skinned spheres of juiciness on the bush for as long as possible, advising those picking their own where the best spots are on any given day.

Visitors can rock up with their own punnets or use those provided and then pick until their hearts are content and around £6 per kg (price correct at time of article). There’s ample free parking, but no dogs allowed other than guide dogs.

Best for: Health-conscious and sustainability fans, or those wishing to simply try out their blueberry wine!

Nearest recommended pub: The George & Dragon in Newton near Castle Acre is a little drive east toward Norwich, but offers a warm welcome and hearty pub fare – perfect for refuelling after a day of picking. With gorgeous expansions over recent years, the pub offers guestrooms, an amazing setting and ales from the East’s very own Woodfordes Brewery. Food is courtesy of the Fanny Adams catering team.

Old Buckenham Gardening Retreat, Old Buckenham, South Norfolk

While not a traditional pick-your-own farm, Old Buckenham Gardening Retreat (a 20-minute drive south of Norwich) offers a unique flower-picking experience that is worth including in this list. Open Wednesdays and Sundays from 10am to 2pm, this beautiful gardening project allows visitors to cut their own flowers from their specially cultivated cutting garden during the summer months.

It’s a testament to the skills of the team at the Old Buck Gardening Retreat that they have such as range of flowers available considering the weather this year – they’ve even opened their dahlia section to the public for PYO now – no mean feat considering the rain and slugs.

The cutting garden is an oasis of colour and fragrance, with a carefully curated selection of flowers perfect for creating your own bouquets. From classic varieties to trendy dahlias, there’s something to suit every taste.

What sets Old Buckenham Gardening Retreat apart is its heart – you can really tell they have a passion for what they do. They offer regular workshops, events and updates on their Facebook pages, and the staff are always happy to offer advice on which flowers work well together in a bouquet or bucket.

This venue is a must for those looking for inspiration for events such as weddings and styling and it is well worth stopping by to see what the team does. There’s plenty of free parking at the Old Buckenham Country Club which adjoins the Gardening Retreat.

Best for: Creating personalised flower bouquets, gardening enthusiasts, and learning about flower cultivation. This venue is a masterclass in sustainability and organic cultivation.

Nearest recommended pub: The Ox and Plough in nearby Old Buckenham offers a great selection of local ales and is a traditional boozer, while the Old Buckenham Country Club itself offers a large array of catering from their grill shack and other local pop-up foodie events. We enjoyed some amazing £7.50 bowls of taste from the Viet Bowl Vietnamese street food team that was in residence the day we visited. Their garlic pork with vermicelli noodle dish was a succulent and satisfying end to a day in the sun visiting the area!

From sunflower fields to strawberry patches, Norfolk’s pick-your-own venues offer a delightful way to connect with the county’s agricultural bounty. Whether you’re seeking fresh fruit for your table, beautiful blooms for your vase, or simply a fun day out in the countryside, these five destinations provide unique and memorable experiences. So grab your baskets and sun hats, and set out to explore the best of Norfolk’s pick-your-own offerings!