HALLOWE’EN is almost upon us and that means trick or treating, fancy dress and, most importantly, pumpkins.

If you’d rather choose your pumpkin from a farm than buy one from the supermarket shelf, here are a few places to visit across Dorset and the New Forest.

Pumpkin Picking Patch

Pumpkin Picking Patch has planted 150,000 seeds of more than 15 varieties of pumpkins and gourds on 30 acres across their two sites in Fordingbridge and West Sussex. Onsite you'll find wheelbarrows to push your pumpkins plus Hallowe'en crafts such as broomstick decorating and wand making. If you're lucky, you may even catch a glimpse of their friendly witch. There's free entry and parking with pumpkins starting from £3. Open October 13 and 14, then between October 19 and 28 from 9.30am to 4pm.

Sopley Farm

Located on Derritt Lane between Sopley and Bransgore, Sopley Farm grows nearly 20 different fruits and vegetables. Visitors can choose their perfect pumpkin for Halloween between 10am and 4pm seven days a week during October. Pumpkins cost 60p per kg when you pick your own. There's a farm shop, parking, toilets and a picnic area.

Cat & Fiddle Farm & Café

Like Sopley Farm, Cat & Fiddle Farm on Lyndhurst Road at Hinton is part of the Dan Tanner’s brand. It is open between 10am and 5pm throughout October and entry is free. Pumpkins are priced at 60p per kg. Onsite you'll find parking, toilets, a picnic area, farm shop and cafe.

Dan Tanner’s says it has “thousands” of pumpkins for people to choose from and there will be wheelbarrows and sledges to help pickers transport their pumpkins.

Lenctenbury Farm

Lenctenbury Farm in Soldiers Road, Norden, Corfe Castle, was founded by Andrew Carlyle. Andrew is the third generation of farmers in the Carlyle family and he runs the farm with his family. The farm will be open between 10am and 5pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the last two weeks of October. Entry is free and prices start from £1 for a little pumpkin. There are no toilets and no cafe onsite.

Goodall's Strawberries

Situated in Lymington, Goodall's Strawberries will be open for pumpkin picking each day between 10am and 4.30pm from Friday, October 19, until Sunday, October 29. They have one variety of pumpkin available at 80p/lb or £2.80/kg. There will be activities for children and hot food plus tea, coffee and cakes.