2024 Northwest England Blackberry U-Pick Farms and Orchards

Blackberry U-Pick Orchards in Northwest England in 2024, by county

Below are the PYO orchards and farms for blackberries and other brambles that we know of in this area. Not all areas have blackberries and other brambles orchards or farms that are open to the public. If you know of any others, please tell us using the add a farm form!

 

Remember to always check with the farm's own website or Facebook page before you go - or call or email them if they don't have a website or Facebook page. Conditions at the farms and crops can change literally overnight, so if you want to avoid a wasted trip out there - check with the farm directly before you go! If I cannot reach them, I DON'T GO!

PLEASE report closed farms, broken links and incorrect info using the "Report Corrections" form below.

Cheshire

• Claremont Farm Limited - Pick Your Own Strawberries, Raspberries, Tayberries, Red & Blackcurrants, Green, Red and Golden Gooseberries, Hayrides
  Old Clatterbridge Road, Bebington, Wirral, Cheshire, UK CH63 4JB. Phone: 151 334 1133. Open: 10 am to 6 pm daily. Directions: By car: From either Liverpool or Chester on the M53, leave at junction 4 (signposted Bebington, Bromborough, Clatterbridge, Neston), then, at the roundabout take the exit heading towards Bebington / Bromborough. Take the first right onto Old Clatterbridge Road, go past the old farm lane on the left and it’s just a little further down on the left hand side. By public transport: The nearest train station is Spital Station. We also have a bus stop at the end of Old Clatterbridge Road at the junction with Brimstage Road, or we’re just a short walk from Clatterbridge Hospital. Payment: Cash, Cheque. In 2018, the Strawberries were £3.50/kg. The Gooseberries are £2.75/kg. The rest of the fruit will ripen a couple of weeks after the strawberries (which makes it mid July) , so keep an eye on our Instagram or FB page for updates.  Click here for a link to our Facebook page. On the weekends we offer a FREE tractor ride to the best picking spots! Pick Your Own (PYO) is seasonal and usually runs from the middle of June to nearly the end of July. We do not accept cards in the field. And if all that fruit and open space isn’t enough, then on the weekends we offer a FREE tractor ride to the best picking spots! There are no toilet facilities in the field. We have access along the headland to the fruit for disabled pickers, although this can become tricky in wet weather. Dogs are welcome in the fields, but they must be kept out of the fruit areas at all time and kept on a lead. (UPDATED: May 14 2019, JBS)
• Eddisbury Fruit Farm - Apples, other berries, plums, raspberries (Autumn, red), Cider mill (fresh apple cider made on the premises)
  Eddisbury Fruit Farm, Yeld Lane, Kelsall, Cheshire, UK CW60TE. Phone: 0795 5073024. Email: info@eddisbury.co.uk. Open: 10am till 4pm every day from the 25th August till 25th of September. Click here for current open hours, days and dates. Directions: Eddisbury fruit farm is just a few minutes walk from delemere forrest, and situated at the bottom of yeld lane. For a map to our farm, click here. All available from 25th of August- 25th September: -Eating apples (Katy, James Grieve, discovery) -Cooking apples (bramley, howgate) -Victoria plums -Damsons -Blackberries -Redcurrants. Payment: Cash, only. Apples, plums, damsons, blackberries and redcurrant available to pick. We also sell apple juice and cider which is made on the farm from the apples on the farm. (ADDED: September 03, 2016) (UPDATED: June 13, 2014, from their website) (UPDATED: April 14, 2009)
• Kenyon Hall Farm - blackberries, broad beans, corn (sweet), currants (red and black), gooseberries, green beans, onions, other berries, peas, pumpkins, raspberries (red), raspberries (Spring, red),raspberries (Autumn, red), raspberries (yellow), raspberries (Spring, yellow), raspberries (Autumn, yellow), raspberries (black), raspberries (Spring, black), raspberries (Autumn, black), strawberries, Tayberries,
  Kenyon Hall Farm, Winwick Lane Croft, Warrington, Cheshire, UK WA3 7ED. Phone: 01925 763646. Email: theshop@kenyonhall.co.uk . Open: June to October, every day from 9;38 am to 5;30. Click here for current open hours, days and dates. Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. Directions: We're just off J22 of the M6. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa/MasterCard. Click here for our Facebook page. U-pick fruit, vegetables and flowers. The Pick Your Own farm shop is after August for the summer and open again in the last week of October for Pumpkins and Squashes, and then at Easter for Asparagus and on for the summer. (UPDATED: May 14, 2019, JBS) (UPDATED: April 01, 2016)
• Malpas Pick Your Own Strawberries and Pumpkins Libbys Patch - strawberries, Pumpkin patch, Corn mazes,
  Ivy House Farm, Dodds Lane, Malpas, Cheshire SY14 7JN. Phone: 07973919333. Alternate phone: 01948 860326. Email: malpaspumpkins@gmail.com. Open: see their website for current year's dates. We have a field full of pumpkins, small to large. Find the one you want and its yours, make soup, pie or just for carving! Enter the field through our monstrous maize maze! Choose your perfect pumpkin, but will you find your way out to our spooky goings on? Fancy dress is fun and welcome. BEST BRING YOUR WELLIES. Join us for our spooky field fun days everyday during half term Will you find the way out of our monstrous maze? Come in fancy dress. Children's crafts and games available at pocket money prices! Lucky dip, creepy crafts, revolting refreshments, scary sweeties, ghastly games! Click here for a link to our Facebook page.
• Pikelow Farm - Raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, possibly other berries
  School Lane, Marton, Macclesfield, Cheshire SK11 9HD. Phone: 01260 224231.
• Poynton Fruit Farm - Uses integrated pest management practices, blackberries, currants (red and black), gooseberries, Loganberries, potatoes, raspberries (Spring, black), rhubarb, strawberries, Turkeys, Fresh eggs, restrooms
  Coppice Road,, Poynton, SK12 1SW. Phone: 0125 879401. Email: ffarm@treeworkers.com. Open: Mid June - end of July, Wednesday from 1 pm to 6 pm; Weekends from 10 am to 2 pm, opening times may vary depending on the availability of the fruits. Click here for current open hours, days and dates. Directions: From the roundabout in the centre of Poynton proceed up Park Lane and as the road splits take the right hand road (this is a continuation of the road you are on), we are approximately half a mile on the right hand side. For a map to our farm, click here. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa/MasterCard. We are a family run pick your own fruit farm, we use as little herbicide as possible to ensure you get the best tasting fruit available. There is a 391 bus from Stockport which stops very close to the entrance.   Click here for our Facebook page. (UPDATED: June 28, 2019)
• Woore Fruit Farm - Apples, beets, blackberries, broad beans, carrots, currants (red and black), gooseberries, onions, pears, peas, plums, Raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, Tayberries, picnic area
  Newcastle Road Woore, Crewe, Cheshire, UK CW3 9RE. Phone: 01630 647042. Open: Open every Day 9;30 to 7pm. Strawberries, from June to September, under cover at table top height. Payment: Cash, Check. (UPDATED: July 10, 2015, JBS) (UPDATED: May 26, 2008)

Greater Manchester

Lancashire

• The Farm Shop at Claytons Strawberry Farm - strawberries, gooseberries, Raspberries, black currants, red currants and pea pods
  Course Lane, Newburgh, Wigan, Lancashire WN8 7UB. Phone: 01257 462695. They also do hanging baskets and flowers and there new potatoes at the Farm Shop. Ask for peter or David for the tip of the day
  A visitor writes on August 25, 2008: "I think it closed for good last Thursday. We called a last Tuesday and were told this by the shop. It would be well to check"
• Greenbank Farm - Gooseberries, Raspberries, Redcurrants, Blackcurrants and Potatoes
  Over Kellet, Carnforth, Lancashire LA6 IBS UK. Phone: +44 (0)1524 733296. Email: fruit@greenbankfarm.co.uk. Open: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm every day; usually for seven weeks from the end of June. Gooseberries in late June. Raspberries, Redcurrants, Blackcurrants and Potatoes will be ready in early July. Check back closer to the time for updates. Free entry to pick-your-own, just pay for what you pick. Payment: cash, cheque only. Light refreshments, picnic area and toilet available. We at Greenbank Farm are specialist producers of fresh, healthy fruit and vegetables. Available for you to select direct from the plants, produce doesn't get any fresher than that! We have been supplying the freshest produce to the discerning consumer for over 30 years. If you don't fancy the idea of picking your own, we will be more than happy to pick your fruit for you, and have it waiting for you on your visit. Enjoy a great day out in the beautiful Lancashire countryside, pick your own fruit, enjoy a cup of tea at our snack bar and come back soon. We are open every day in the PYO season, we closed last year on Thursday 20 August. We grow rhubarb, broad beans, strawberries, blackcurrants, pears, Raspberries, redcurrants, plums, gooseberries, jostaberries, apples. A.k.A, Green Bank Farm. (UPDATED: October 14, 2021, JBS) (UPDATED: August 06, 2008)
• Leapers Rock Orchard - UPDATE: 2September 2020: A visitor tells me they are now permanently closed
  Carnforth, LA6 1BP. Closed due to ill health and retirement of the owners.. 27th October 2019 was our last day of  PICK YOUR OWN Fruits business. Due to health problem, we have decided we are closing.

Merseyside

• Claremont Farm - blackberries, raspberries (black), strawberries, Tayberries, Other fruit or veg,
  Old Clatterbridge Road, Bebington, Wirral, ch634jb. Phone: 01513341906. Email: thefamily@claremontfarm.co.uk. Open: June and July 7 days a week 10am to 6pm. Click here for current open hours, days and dates. Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. Directions: From either Liverpool or Chester on the M53, leave at junction 4 (signposted Bebington, Bromborough, Clatterbridge, Neston), then at the roundabout take exit heading towards Bebington / Bromborough, take the first right onto Old Clatterbridge Road, then first left up Farm Lane. Click here for a map and directions. Soft fruit picking June and July early strawberries available in the farm shop from late Mid May asparagus End April - June 21st Wirral Food and Drink festival August bank holiday weekend Chef n farmer evenings, cookery workshops available all year. Payment: Cash, Cheque, Debit cards, Visa/MasterCard. Other Pick Your Own Fruit-red and blackcurrants Gooseberries (green, golden and red) Vegetables-Potatoes, Sprouts, Carrots, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cabbage ( savoy, drumhead, summer and red),Kale, Beetroot Specialty Crops, Asparagus, Indoor Strawberries, Rhubarb, Pumpkins, Sweetcorn, Courgettes and Courgettes flowers. (UPDATED: June 13, 2014, from their website) (ADDED: February 20, 2010)
• Sandhill Strawberry Farm - strawberries, raspberries,
  Warrington road, Rainhill, Prescot, Merseyside L35 6PG. Phone 0151 493 2022. Open: 7 days per week: May 'till early August from 10:00 am - 6:00 pm. (*For information on crops ready to pick, ring us). Direc tions: next to Junction 7 M62 - at Rainhill Stoops. (ADDED: July 10, 2015, JBS)

Brambleberry Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

If you are getting ready to pick some brambles, either at a farm or along the roadside, you might want some useful information first! Brambles are both wild and domestic blackberries as well as similar sprawling berries, which typically includes the various hybrids like Loganberries, Tayberries, Boysenberries, and raspberries. Brambles typically peak during July, but it can range from early June through October, especially since new everbearing varieties like the American PrimeArk blackberries have been commercialized.

Varieties of Brambleberries, Blackberries, Raspberries and Hybrids

There almost countless variants of brambles. See this page for detailed descriptions of many bramble varieties found at British farms and orchards.

 

Before you leave to go to the farm:

1. Always call before you go to the farm - And when they are in season, a large turnout can pick a field clean before noon, so CALL first!
2. Leave early. On weekends, then fields may be picked clean by NOON!
    
3. Most growers furnish picking containers designed for Blackberries, but they may charge you for them; be sure to call before you go to see if you need to bring containers.
   If you use your own containers, remember that heaping Blackberries more than 5 inches deep will bruise the lower berries. Plastic dishpans, metal oven pans with 3 inch tall sides and large pots make good containers. I like the plastic storage containers.
4. Bring something to drink and a few snacks; you'd be surprised how you can work up a thirst and appetite! And don't forget hats and sunscreen for the sun. Bugs usually aren't a problem, but some deet might be good to bring along if it has been rainy.

Tips on How to Pick Bramble berries

1. There are two types of brambles to know about: thorny and thornless! Obviously, the thornless are easier to pick, but some people claim the thorny varieties are sweeter. With the thorny plants, you want to reach into the plant in the gaps, so you don't need to touch anything but the berry you're after, avoiding the thorns.
2. A ripe blackberry is deep black with a plump, full feel. It will pull free from the plant with only a slight tug. If the berry is red or purple, it's not ripe yet.
3. Repeat these operations using both hands until each holds 3 or 4 berries. Unlike strawberries, blackberries are usually pretty tough, I dump mine into the bucket. Repeat the picking process with both hands.
4. Don't overfill your containers or try to pack the berries down.

General Picking Tips

Whether you pick brambles or blackberries from your garden or at a Pick-Your-Own farm, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

1. Pick only the berries that are fully black, or a purple. Of course, there are a few varieties that are yellow orange or red when ripe, too. Typically, the should feel firm and plump and readily separate from the plant with a gentle tug. .
2.  Reach in between the stems to grab for hidden berries ready for harvest. Bend down and look up into the plant and you will find loads of berries that other people missed!
3. Avoid placing the picked berries in the sunlight any longer than necessary. It is better to put them in the shade of a tree or shed than in the car trunk or on the car seat. Cool them as soon as possible after picking. Blackberries may be kept fresh in the refrigerator for up to a week, depending upon the initial quality of the berry. After a few days in storage, however, the fruit loses its bright color and fresh flavor and tends to shrivel.

When you get home

1. DON'T wash the berries until you are ready to use them or freeze them. Washing makes them more prone to spoiling.
2. Pour them out into shallow pans and remove any mushed, soft or rotting berries
3. Put a couple of days supply into the fridge, wash off the others, drain them and freeze them up! (Unless you're going to make jam right away) Blackberries are less perishable than blueberries or strawberries, but refrigerate them as soon as possible after picking. Temperatures between 34 F and 38 F are best, but, be careful not to freeze the blackberries (while they are in the fridge)!
4. Even under ideal conditions blackberries will only keep for a week in a refrigerator, so for best flavor and texture, use them as soon as possible after purchase

Blackberry Recipes, Freezing and Jam directions

1. How to make Blackberry jam - It is VERY easy - especially with our free Blackberry jam directions - very easy!
2. How to make Blackberry jelly
3. How to freeze berries
4. Blackberry syrup, make and can it!
5. Seedless blackberry pie!
6. Blackberry Festivals: Where, When and More to Find an Blackberry Festival Near You this year:

Blackberry Facts and Tips

• Black Raspberries, also known as "black caps" are a very healthy food; packed with anthocyanins!
• The USDA says 1 cup (228 ml) of blackberries has about 62 calories.
• 1 cup of blackberries, not packed down weighs about 140 grams.
• Select plump, firm, fully blackberries. Unripe berries will not ripen once picked.
• Ohio State University's Article Regarding Their Prevention of Cancer
• Oregon Berry Black Raspberry Brochure
• Blackberry tea was said to be a cure for dysentery during the Civil War. During outbreaks of dysentery, temporary truces were declared to allow both Union and Confederate soldiers to "go blackberrying" to forgage for blackberries to ward off the disease.
• Blackberries were enjoyed by the ancient Greeks, who believed them to be a cure for diseases of the mouth and throat, as well as a preventative against many ailments, including gout.
• The blackberry leaf was also used as an early hair dye, having been recommended by Culpeper, the English herbalist, to be boiled in a lye solution in order to "maketh the hair black".
• Guide to blackberry varieties
• Researchers have known for quite some time that berries contain antioxidants which help to fight cancer causing free radicals. A study at the University of Ohio has found that blackberries are the most potent cancer fighting berries of them all, by nearly 40 percent!
• U-pick Blackberry farms typically sell berries by the pound. A quart equals 1 and 1/2 pounds of fresh berries.
• Do the math and be careful not to over-purchase as Blackberries quickly mold when left at room temperature, and only last a couple of days in the refrigerator.
• You can easily freeze berries that you cannot use right away - just wash, cut the hulls off and pop them into a ziplock bag, removing as much air as possible. Those vacuum food sealers REALLY do a good job of this! The berries will keep for many months frozen without air.
• Want to go to a blackberry festival? See this page for a list!