It is officially time to start thinking of going to pick your own fruit.
There are plenty of wonderful places in and around Derbyshire and the wider Peak District where farms and garden nurseries open their doors (or field gates if you’re being really technical) to those who want to go pick their own fruit.
What is the point of going to pick your own fruit?
Yes, getting your weekly fruit and vegetables delivered, or bought from your local supermarket sure is convenient.
However, there is something magical about embracing the great outdoors and plucking strawberries from plants - perhaps even sneaking a juicy raspberry into your mouth - as you gather produce, that fills you with a feel-good factor.
1. Wymeswold Fruit Farm, Wide Lane, Wymeswold, Leicestershire LE12 6SE
Pick strawberries, raspberries and gooseberries, plus red- white- and black-currants from this working farm and family-run business. They also offer pumpkin picking runs which start from October. wymeswoldfruitfarm.co.uk/fruit-picking | Unsplash
2. Scaddows Farm Shop & PYO, Ticknall, Derby DE73 7JP
Head to the hills of lush Derbyshire countryside, enjoy a spot of sun, scenic greenery of Derbyshire and an afternoon of fruit-picking. A range of beautiful soft fruit to pick includes strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries and blackcurrants. Fruit picking will return from June 2025. scaddowsfarm.co.uk/pyo | Google
3. Canalside Farm, Mill Lane, Great Haywood, Stafford ST18 0RQ
Strawberries and raspberries will be on offer to pick from this farm which also has a quaint farm shop onsite. A ‘Maize Maze’ and pumpkin patches are also available to explore, make sure you check dates for when produce is in season prior to leaving. canalsidefarm.co.uk/ | Google
4. Manor Farm Fruits, Tamworth
This farm has been delighting fruit-picking fans since 1971. Produce on offer includes strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, currants, pumpkins and even sunflowers. Availability starts from May through to early autumn months of October. manorfarmfruits.co.uk | Studio Barcelona - stock.adobe