Halloween Fun for All the Family
October means autumn is in full swing with falling leaves, cosy nights in and, of course, all things Halloween. It’s a very exciting time of year for kids and what with the spookiest day of the year falling on a Sunday, there’s plenty of time to fill with family-friendly Halloween activities like pumpkin carving. Head to the Leckford Estate Farm Shop to pick up your pumpkins then let your imagination and creativity run wild.
If you’re more into eating your pumpkins than carving them, then check out our favourite pumpkin recipes. Or, if you prefer, the Farm Shop has Halloween-inspired biscuits and a delicious seasonal menu with lots of tasty food and snacks for any time of the day.
Enjoy Delicious Fruit from Our Orchards in Hampshire
Our Partners at The Waitrose & Partners Farm work hard to bring you some of the freshest and tastiest produce each season. Autumn is an exciting time at Leckford Estate, as this is when we pick our apples and pears from our very own orchards in Hampshire.
The Waitrose & Partners Farm on the Leckford Estate in Hampshire grow many varieties of apples and pears that go straight from the orchards into our local Farm Shop just a few miles away. This year, the much loved and highly regarded Cox apple, referred to as ‘the Champagne of apples,’ has taken on a new depth of flavour due to the long dry season. The Cox variety is an unmistakable tasting apple and one that heralds the start of autumn!
The Farm Shop also stocks Crab apples and Quince fruit which is synonymous with autumn.
Make the Most of Your Garden This Autumn
Autumn is a special time of year for many horticulturalists; gardens and allotments are overflowing with fruit and vegetables ready to be harvested and the soil is moist and warm, making it the perfect texture for planting spring bulbs such as daffodils, tulips and crocuses.
Autumn is also an excellent time for planting trees because the soil is full of moisture and less watering is required. The Leckford Estate Nursery is getting behind The Queen’s Green Canopy Scheme, asking people to plant a tree between October 2021 and July 2022 to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022. As well as a wide selection of fruit trees, the nursery stocks many ornamental and specimen trees as well as hedging.
If you want to grow some of your own fruit for next year, then visit the Plant Nursery this season and take a look at the range of trees available. You can speak to a horticultural specialist who will be more than happy to assist you with the right tree for your garden. Read our top tips for gardening this autumn.
Spend the Day at Leckford Estate
Autumn is a great time to visit our beloved Water Garden – even on a dull, cold day the water reflects an array of golden brassy shades. The red tones of the Swamp Cypress shine instantly warm up the garden and create a breath-taking autumnal scene. Our famous Water Garden in Hampshire is open until 31st October, so make sure you book your tickets soon.
Then why not embrace autumn by heading to our local farm shop? Here you can make the most of the changing of the seasons, from pumpkins to plants. There’s free parking, a chance to shop for food, gifts, home and garden, then you can treat yourself to something tasty from the Farm Shop Cafe. The team at the Farm Shop Cafe offer a tasty menu, using fresh local ingredients including Leckford’s own mushrooms, flour and rapeseed oil. Savour the flavour of freshly prepared goodness this autumn.
