Looking for a family day out that’ll tire out the kids, get them out and about in nature and that’s (hay) bales of fun? Enter The Patch MK, a family-run working farm that goes all out during autumn and summer, creating a space for some seriously wholesome seasonal entertainment.

Come October, The Patch MK is your one-stop-shop for award-winning pumpkins and all sorts of suitably spooky goings-on. With 61 different varieties of pumpkins and squash planted, there’s over 500,000 different sizes, shapes and colours to choose from (great if you like them particularly warty!). Go for the pumpkin picking, stay for the marshmallow toasting, barista coffee, bale maze, barrel train and many (many) awesome photo opportunities dotted throughout the space.

Seriously, there’s too much fun to be had at The Patch MK during the day which is why they hold pumpkin nights too – pumpkin picking under the stars plus live music, delicious seasonal food and a bar makes for a lush autumnal evening with your nearest and dearest, wouldn’t you say?

And what do they do with any leftover pumpkins, I hear you cry? Donate them, of course! The Patch MK work closely with London-based charity The Felix Project, who redistribute any unpicked pumpkins to food banks, schools and refuges. To date, they’ve donated the equivalent of over 30’000 meals in fresh produce!

During the summer months you can expect the same levels of awesomeness, with three maize mazes to lose your brood in for an hour (or two), a stunning flower field with over 30 million different bee-friendly flowers and sunflowers in for you to either just marvel at or PYO, as well as plenty of games like mini golf to amuse the kids.

It may only be open across summer and autumn, but The Patch MK really makes the most if it and will fast become your school holiday hero – add it to your must-visit list.