Strawberry U-Pick Orchards in Northern East Anglia in 2024, by county
Below are the PYO orchards and farms for strawberries that we know of in this area. Not all areas have strawberries 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.
Cambridgeshire
-
Bury Lane Farm Shop - raspberries (red), strawberries, U-pick and already picked, farm market, gift
shop, concessions / refreshment stand, restrooms
A10 Bypass, Melbourn, SG8 6DF. Phone: 01763 260418. Email: customerServices@ewpepper.co.uk. Open: Generally from June to September. Directions: For a map to our farm, click here. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa/MasterCard, AmEx. Click here for our Facebook page. (ADDED: August 04, 2016) -
Chaplins Farm -
UPDATE: July 18, 2017: A visitor tells me they are now permanently closed
for PYO PYO: strawberries, raspberries, range of vegetables
Babraham Road, Fulborn, Cambridge. Phone: 01223 880722. Directions: Exit to Newmarket on A11 then 2.5m to Fulbourn. Farm signposted. The farm shop has soft fruits and vegetables, eggs. Facilities: Plants & shrubs, donkey rides, caravan site with WC and shower, golf driving range, farmhouse cooking to order. (UPDATED: 03 April 2016, JBS) (UPDATED: July 12, 2015, JBS) - Dawson’s Farm Strawberries and Produce - strawberries, Brussels
sprouts, cauliflower, eggs
Dawson’s Farm Bungalow, Puddock Road, Warboys, Huntingdon PE28 2UE. Email: dawsonsfarmstrawberries@gmail.com. Open: See you at Christmas for Brussels and Cauliflowers and next summer for strawberrie;. PYO 13 December only, 10am to 1pm, no booking necessary but to check their Facebook page first. They are a husband and wife team who are passionate about farming and showing the public where their food comes from. At the minute they do PYO strawberries, Brussel Sprouts and cauliflowers but hope to expand in the future! (ADDED: 9 October 2020, JBS) -
Hill Farm / J
F B Ivens - strawberries, Raspberries, Gooseberries, Black / Red
Currants, Tayberries,
Blackberries. Summer vegetables including Broad Beans, Spinach, Courgettes, Sweet
Corn, Pumpkins and Squash
Oundle Road, Chesterton, Peterborough, PE7 3UA. Phone: 01 733 233270. Open: June through October, Tuesday-Friday from 9am-6pm; Saturday and Sunday from 9am-5pm; CLOSED on Mondays (except Bank holidays); Bank holidays from 9am-5pm. Free entry and ample car parking. Refreshments. Toilets (including disabled facilites). Picnic area. Playground. Hill Farm Birds of Prey on display. Directions: On Oundle Road 200 yards West of Alwalton / A1 flyover. If approaching from A1 Northbound carriageway, turn off Left 1 mile North of junction 17. From A1 Southbound, turn off into Alwalton and follow signs to Chesterton. Payment: Debit/credit cards accepted (50p surcharge if under £10).Hill Farm is a family run business open from June-October offering ‘pick-your-own’ (PYO) and ‘ready picked’ soft fruit and vegetables -
ideal for freezing, jam and wine making, or just eating fresh. Set in attractive rural surroundings, on a hill overlooking Peterborough, the Farm also offers light refreshments and a playground. It also hosts a 5 van caravan site called Mound Lodge CL (certificated location). Picking seasons are weather dependent, so please note that this information is an approximate guide only. Please call for up to date crop information.
Gooseberries Early June to mid July
Strawberries Early June to early Aug
Raspberries (Summer) Late June to late July
Raspberries (Autumn) Early Aug to mid Oct
Blackcurants Early July to early Aug
Redcurrants Late June to mid Aug
Blackberries Mid July to Late Sept
Plums Mid Aug to early Sept
Sweetcorn Early Sept to mid Oct
Pumpkins and squashes October. (UPDATED: 03 April 2016, JBS) (UPDATED: July 11, 2015, JBS) (UPDATED: July 21, 2009) -
Lidgate Farm - strawberries,
currants (red and black), raspberries (red),
raspberries (yellow), ,
Prickwillow Road, Isleham, Ely, CB75RG. Phone: 07860727089. Open: Monday to Friday 10am to 7pm, Saturday and Sunday 9am to 5pm June 4 to July 30. Directions: Take turning to Prickwillow at Isleham Church we are half mile from church on left. Click here for a map and directions. Strawberries June 4 to July 20, Raspberries July 10 to July 30; Blackcurrants July. Payment: Cash, only. (UPDATED: 03 April 2016, JBS) (UPDATED: July 12, 2015, JBS) (ADDED: June 26, 2012)
Norfolk
- Blofield PYO - Pick
Your Own strawberries, Raspberries, Blackberries, Blueberries, Tayberries,
Currants and Sweet Peas when in season.
58 Yarmouth Road, Blofield Norwich. Phone: 07849 608662. Email: blofieldpyo@gmail.com. Open: from 20th May. Directions: A47 from Norwich/Great Yarmouth, at roundabout (Fina garage & Little Chef) take road to Blofield village, str. over traffic lights (by Kings Head ph), then 0.5miles to farm, rhs. Farm Shop, PYO and Garden Centre. Large range of PYO fruits and vegetables including plums, apples. Farm shop with meat, poultry & produce. Garden Centre, 'The Coffee Pot' serves light refreshments. Click here for a link to our Facebook page. (UPDATED: 03 April 2016, JBS) -
Pages Farm - asparagus, cucumbers, gooseberries, herbs/spices,
onions, raspberries (Spring, black), strawberries, tomatoes, other
vegetables, U-pick and already picked
Scratby Road, Scratby, Great Yarmouth, NR29 3NL. Phone: 07799 455373. Email: pagesfarm@hotmail.co.uk. Open: During the summer months open every day from 8:30am till 5pm; Open Fridays and Saturdays during Winter from 8:30am till 4pm. Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. Directions: The farm is located 10 mintues away from Great Yarmouth and 5 minutes away from Hemsby. Click here for a map and directions. Asparagus available from May, Strawberries and Gooseberries available from June to July, Raspberries from July to August and Onions from Late August to September; Potatoes and Vegetables available seasonally throughtout the year. Payment: Cash, Cheque. (ADDED: November 29, 2015) -
Swafield Fruit Centre -
strawberries, blackberries, currants (red and black),
gooseberries, loganberries, raspberries (red), raspberries (Spring, red), tayberries,
Swafield Fruit Centre Swafield, North Walsham, NR28 0PG. Phone: 01692 406667. Email: enquiries@swafield-fruit-centre.co.uk. Open: In season fruits to be advised and updated on our web site. Click here for current open hours, days and dates. Directions: Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Cheque. All fruit is naturally sun ripened i.e. not grown under poly tunnels. . (UPDATED: July 14, 2016) (UPDATED: 03 April 2016, JBS) (ADDED: March 04, 2011) - The Grange - asparagus, beetroot, corn
(sweet), courgettes, cucumbers, gooseberries, onions, potatoes, pumpkins, raspberries
(red), strawberries, blackberries, tomatoes,
Fleggburgh Road, Rollesby, Great Yarmouth, NR295HH. Phone: 01493 740236. Email: office@thetacons.co.uk. Open: Farm Shop: Everyday 9am to 6pm PYO: Seasonally, daily 10am to 4pm. Directions: Farm Shop just off A149, behind Horse & Groom pub. PYO field next to A149. And for a map to our farm, click here. Crops are usually available in May, June, July. Asparagus: May to June Soft Fruit: June to July Onions: September onwards Potatoes: New potatoes June onwards; Main crop October onwards. Payment: Cash, only. The Tacons have been farming at The Grange for three generations. This Broadland farm is bordered by the Trinity Broads and boasts a wide variety of wildlife. Pick Your Own Strawberries began in 1980, we now offer strawberries, gooseberries, raspberries and blackberries. PYO Pumpkins now available at The Tacons. Come and select your own straight from the field. (UPDATED: October 15, 2017) (UPDATED: 03 April 2016, JBS) (ADDED: February 28, 2009) -
The Orchards Pick Your Own - asparagus, blackberries, carrots,
cherries, currants (red and black), gooseberries, potatoes, raspberries
(red), rhubarb, strawberries,
S & J Carnell (The Orchards), Low Road, Walpole cross keys, Kings Lynn, Pe34 4ha. Phone: 01553 829506. Email: shop@sandjcarnell.co.uk. Open: PYO Monday to Sunday, from 8am to 7pm from 1st June to 20th August. Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. Directions: Directions: Follow direction signs off of A17 between Terrington Street Clement and Sutton Bridge. Postcode is PE344HA for satellite nav use. Low Road is located just off of Sutton Rd, Walpole Cross Keys in Norfolk which is 16 minutes from the Hardwick Roundabout in Kings Lynn and 7 minutes from Sutton Bridge on the Lincolnshire border. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. A portaloo is on site, with handwash and a hand towel. We are only able to take cash as payment, sorry for any inconvenience this may cause .(UPDATED: 03 April 2016, JBS) (UPDATED: August 02, 2014) (UPDATED: May 29, 2014) (ADDED: July 04, 2013) -
The White House - strawberries, Gooseberries, Raspberries, Blackcurrants, Redcurrants,
Plums, Cherries, Apples, Pears, Potatoes, Courgettes, Onions, Beetroot,
Pumpkins, Sweetcorn, Tomatoes, Squashes.
Blue Boar Lane, Sprowston, Norwich. Phone: 01603 419357. Email: thefarmer@norwich-pyo.co.uk. Open: late June to October on Tuesday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm ,Sundays from 10am to 4pm (closed on Mondays). Dogs are welcome, on leads, in the cafe and to sit by the fire. (Unattended children will be sold to the circus.) Debit and Credit cards accepted, plus cash back available. Minimum purchase is £2 per person if you enter the fields. Debit and Credit cards accepted. If you're looking for a fun day out for all of the family, why not come and pick your own fruit and vegetables on the north east corner of Norwich. White House Farm is the perfect place to visit when you're looking to pick your own produce and experience the farm first hand. Our farm is set in beautiful countryside on the very edge of the city, and is easily accessible for everyone. We do Pumpkins! Giant ones that you can barely carry, right down to baby ones that small children can pick. They are all grown on the farm, and have to be chosen and picked by the families. We sell our own pork and other foods sold locally.(UPDATED: June 20, 2018, JBS) -
Wiveton Hall
- strawberries, blackcurrants, redcurrants, gooseberries, raspberries,
asparagus, artichokes, carrots, potatoes, broad beans, squashes and tomatoes
Holt near Cromer. Phone: 01263 740525. Email: shop@wivetonhall.co.uk. Open:Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 4.00pm and Saturday/Sunday from 9.30am to 4.00pm from late May to August. Directions: Off A149 between Cley and Blakeney. Own pork and other foods sold locally. The farm is famous for its fabulous Pick-Your-Own (PYO) opportunities and offers an extensive range of seasonal fruit and vegetables. When in season, all of these are available to buy from the shop and also the roadside stall. The PYO farm at Wiveton started in the late 80s and is one of the first of its kind in the area. After more than 30 years it is well established and boasts the best fruit and berries on the North Norfolk coast. Jam makers in particular love coming here to pick their fruit and our own jams are all homemade at Wiveton Hall. The PYO farm is open daily from the end of May depending how the fruit is growing. Produce grown on Wiveton Hall Farm is used to create several of the dishes that appear on the menu at Wiveton Hall Café. The farm offers Pick-Your-Own (PYO) Strawberries and Raspberries and grows an extensive selection of fruit and vegetables that are used in the café as well as for sale in the shop and the roadside stall which is open from 9.30am to 4.00pm every day in season.Please sign-up for our mailing list and we'll let you know as soon as the season begins.(UPDATED: June 21, 2018, JBS)
Suffolk
-
Alder Carr Farm - Uses natural
growing practices, blackberries, broad beans, corn (sweet),
currants (red and black), gooseberries, raspberries (red), rhubarb, winter
squash, strawberries, tayberries, other vegetables, Honey from hives on the
farm, Fresh eggs, U-pick and already picked, gift shop, concessions /
refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, farm animals, school tours,
events at your location (call for info)
Alder Carr Farm Creeting St. Mary, Ipswich, IP6 8LX. Phone: 01449 720820. Email: farmshop@aldercarrfarm.co.uk. Open: Monday and Tuesday: from 9am to 5:00pm; Sundays and Bank Holidays from 10am to 4pm. Click here for current open hours, days and dates. Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. Directions: Alder Carr Farm is situated between the village of Creeting Street Mary, and the market town of Needham Market in Suffolk. The farm is within 5 minutes drive of the A14. From Creeting Street Mary, take Saint Mary's Road and turn left just before the river. From Needham Market, take Hawks Mill Street and turn right just after the river. Click here for a map and directions. March: Rhubarb (available for 18 weeks) June: Strawberries (for 16 weeks), Gooseberries (for 4 weeks), Broad beans (for 6 weeks) July: Raspberries (for 6 weeks), Currants (for 5 weeks), Tayberries (3 weeks) August: Autumn raspberries (for 8 weeks), Runner beans (for 5 weeks), Blackberries (for 4 weeks) September: Sweetcorn (for 5 weeks), Pumpkins and Squash (for 4 weeks). We use natural practices, but are not seeking organic certification. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa/MasterCard. Click here for our Facebook page. Our award-winning farm shop & deli is overflowing with lovely produce. You will find our own highland beef, free-range eggs and award-winning fruit ice cream as well as locally produced food and of course pick your own fruit and vegetables in season. There's lots going on - see our website for a full list of our seasonal food events! Or why not browse the craft shops, visit our play area or farm animals? Our very natural Farm Nature Trail is very popular too, but make sure you bring your wellies!. (UPDATED: 02 April 2016, JBS) (UPDATED: July 23, 2011) -
Friday
Street Farm Shop -strawberries,
Raspberries.
Friday Street, Farnham, Saxmundham, IP17 1JX. Phone: 01728 602783. Email: enquiries@fridaystfarm.co.uk. Long established farm shop with an excellent local reputation for good foods. Directions: Situated near to the quintessentially English seaside towns of Aldeburgh and Southwold. It enjoys fantastic access to the A12 and A1094, the main Aldeburgh road. The Friday Street site hosts a large Farm Shop with attached Home Store, Cafe/Restaurant and a permanent on site Fishmonger. Seasonally, we have Pick Your Own (P.Y.O.) soft fruit. Owned and farmed by the Blyth family for 3 generations, Friday Street Farm has been serving the local community since 1976, when the Farm Shop first started selling a small amount of seasonal produce. (UPDATED: 03 April 2016, JBS) -
Goslings Farm Shop and PYO -
2024 Permanently closed, strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, black currants, red currants,
blackberries, and vegetables
Goslings Farm, High Road, Trimley St.Martin, Felixstowe, Suffolk IP11 0SG. Phone: 01394 273361. Open: UPDATE for 2024, Google says they are permanently closed.
Strawberry Picking Tips, Recipes and Information
Strawberries typically begin from mid- May in the south and central England, and a couple of weeks later in the north and Scotland. They typically continue through June and into July. Beyond that, some farms plant later bearing varieties, day neutral varieties and "everbearers, so they may have strawberries to pick until frost. But to be sure of a good harvest, go early in the season, from mid May through June.
Of course, it highly depends upon microclimates (earlier in warmer western coastal areas) and the varieties planted by each farm. The timing, quality and quantity of the strawberry crop varies considerably, so always check with the farm's website or Facebook page - or even call them before you go to the farm.
Before you leave to go to the farm:
- Always call before you go to the farm - strawberries are affected by weather (both rain and cooler temperature) more than most crops. And when they are in season, a large turnout can pick a field clean before noon, so CALL first!
-
Leave
early. On weekends, then fields may be picked clean by NOON!
-
Most growers furnish picking containers designed
for strawberries, 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
strawberries 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 Glad storage containers like the one at right. -
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 Strawberries
- Grasp the stem just above the berry between the forefinger and the thumbnail and pull with a slight twisting motion.
- With the stem broken about one-half inch from
the berry, allow it to roll into the palm of your hand.
- Repeat these operations using both hands until each holds 3 or 4 berries.
- Carefully place - don't throw - the fruit into your containers. Repeat the picking process with both hands.
- Don't overfill your containers or try to pack the berries down.
General Picking Tips
Whether you pick strawberries from your garden or at
a Pick-Your-Own farm, here are a few tips to keep in mind:
-
Be careful that your feet and knees do not
damage plants or fruit in or along the edge of the row.
- Pick only the berries that are fully red. Part
the leaves with your hands to look for hidden berries ready for harvest.
- To help the farmers, also remove from the plants
berries showing rot, sunburn, insect injury or other defects and place them
between the rows behind you. If they are left in the plants, the rot will
quickly spread to other berries.
- Berries to be used immediately may be picked any
time, but if you plan to hold the fruit for a few days, try to pick in the
early morning or on cool, cloudy days. Berries picked during the heat of the
day become soft, are easily bruised and will not keep well.
- Avoid placing the picked berries in the sunshine 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. Strawberries may be kept fresh in the refrigerator for two or three, depending upon the initial quality of the berry. After a few
days in storage, however, the fruit loses its bright colour and fresh flavor
and tends to shrivel.
- For interesting and fun strawberry facts and trivia from the California Strawberry Commission, click here!
When you get home
- DON'T wash the berries until you are ready to use them. Washing makes them more prone to spoiling.
- Pour them out into shallow pans and remove any mushed, soft or rotting berries
- Put a couple of days supply into the fridge, wash and cut the caps (green tops) off the others and freeze them up! (Unless you're going to make jam right away) See this page about how to freeze strawberries.
- If you like the strawberries you picked, ask the farm what variety they planted, and not the weather conditions the week or two before. The flavor of a strawberry is affected by the variety, the weather and the degree of ripeness when picked.
- Now, get ready to make strawberry jam. It is VERY easy - especially with our free strawberry jam instructions - they're illustrated and easy.
Strawberry Recipes, Canning and Freezing Strawberries
- How to freeze strawberries!
- Strawberry jam (with pectin) (uses less sugar or honey and less cooking)
- Strawberry jam (without pectin) (requires much more sugar and cooking)
- Strawberry (and other berry) jams without sugar
- Strawberry jelly
- Strawberry-rhubarb jam!
- Homemade strawberry ice cream (regular, low fat, nonfat, low sugar, vanilla and even gelato)
- Canning strawberries
- Make gourmet chocolate-covered strawberries
- How to make fruit juice - strawberry and other berries
- Strawberry pie filling
- Strawberry pie
- Easy Rhubarb-Strawberry pie
- Fig-strawberry jam
- Fig-strawberry jam, made with Jello gelatin
Strawberry Facts, Measurements and Tips
-
Picking the best strawberries:
Select firm, fully red berries. Strawberries DO NOT continue ripen after
they are picked! In the photo, only the berry on
the far right is
completely ripe. - Strawberry festivals: Most areas that grow strawberries have a strawberry festival, at which you can taste all kinds of fresh strawberry foods, pies, jams, cakes - and most commonly, fresh strawberry shortcake. To find out where and when there is one near you, see this page for a list of strawberry festivals in the UK!
- Strawberries measurements: government agriculture
websites tell us that
1 quart = 2 pints = 4 cups and is about the same as 1 liter and
1 quart of fresh strawberries weighs 1 lbs to 1.25 lbs (or 450 to 600 g). Of course, the weight varies on variety and weather conditions.
1 quart is normally enough for 4 servings, although I'll admit my son can eat 1 pint by himself! - How much to pick? In general, 1 quart of fresh, whole, just-picked strawberries = approximately 3.5 cups (828 g) hulled, whole berries. In other words, removing the caps/hulls and the occasional mushy berry means you lose 1/4 cup to 1/2 (60 g to 120 g))(it depends how much fruit you remove with the hull) or about 7 to 12% of every quart you pick.
- One cup of strawberries contains only about 50 calories
- U-pick strawberries are much healthier than store-bought. Consumer reports says store bought strawberries have so many pesticide and fungicide residues on they, that they don't recommend you eat them at all!
- U-pick strawberry farms typically sell berries by the pound. 1 lbs (450 g) of fresh strawberries is about 2/3 of a quart/liter.
- It takes about 10 to 15 minutes to pick a quart, if the berries are reasonably plentiful
- The strawberry plant adapts to wide variety of soil conditions, but does not tolerate drought well, and the berries quickly rot if the weather is rainy. For this reason, the plants are usually grown on raised beds through plastic mulch!
- Cultivation of strawberries began in Europe in the 1300's, but the berry only became very popular in the early 1900's in California.
- Do the math and be careful not to over-purchase as strawberries 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 grow your own strawberries? Here's an article about how to: Strawberries are an Excellent Fruit for the Home Garden, HYG-1424-98!
- See this page for many more fun and interesting strawberry facts, nutritional information and trivia
Other weird strawberry facts
- Strawberries are the only fruit with seeds on the outside.
- Strawberries were originally called strewberries because the fruit was 'strewn' amongst the leaves of the plant.
More conversions
1 pint (2 cups) of fresh whole strawberries
- = about 8 oz (1/2 lb, 225 g) of strawberries
- = 2.25 cups of sliced strawberries
- = 1 cup pureed strawberries
- = 12-14 large strawberries
2 quarts of fresh strawberries are needed for a 9" pie
A 10 oz / 280gpackage of frozen berries is about the same as 1 cup of sliced fresh strawberries
| Strawberries - Average 2024 (most recent ) retail price per pound and per cup equivalent, | ||||||
| Form | Average retail price | Preparation yield factor | Size of a cup equivalent | Unit | Average price per cup equivalent | |
| Fresh *1 | per kilogram | 0.94 | 0.320 | Kg | ||
| Frozen *2 | per kilogram | 1 | 0.331 | Kg | ||
| 1 - Includes regular strawberries. Excludes jumbo and long-stemmed varieties. The Standard Reference (SR) reports that inedible caps and stems account for 6 percent of the retail weight, implying a preparation yield of 94 percent, when strawberries are eaten raw. | ||||||
| 2 - Excludes strawberries with added sugar or other sweeteners. Includes unsweetened strawberries. Consumers are assumed to eat the berries in frozen form without further preparation. | ||||||
| Source: USDA, Economic Research Service calculations from 2020 Circana (formerly Information Resources, Inc. [IRI]) OmniMarket Core Outlets (formerly InfoScan) data; the USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference (SR), Legacy Release; and the Food Patterns Equivalents Database (FPED) 2017–18 as well as the FPED's accompanying Methodology and User Guide. | ||||||