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.
5. A Pearson & Sons, Birchin Lee Nurseries, Holmesfield Road, Dronfield S18 8WS
Based 55 minutes away from Derby city centre, A Pearson & Sons is a fruit grower and market gardener. Strawberries are the first produce to be available from the end of June to mid-July. Broad beans, French beans and peas are also available from August. pearsonsnurseries.co.uk | AFP via Getty Images
6. Mr Pumpkin, Lime Farm, Mansfield Road, Morley, Derbyshire DE7 6JU
Pumpkin picking at this farm starts at the end of September. Last year over 50 different varieties of pumpkins were planted. This gives a flavour of what to expect when you go pumpkin picking this year. You’ll be spoilt for choice as you can pick traditional jack-o-lantern pumpkins and many more in plenty of different colours, shapes and sizes. mrpumpkin.co.uk | Adobe Stock/Keitma