A FAMILY farm in Fordingbridge usually equipped to sell pumpkins has embraced the warm weather by welcoming guests to pick some of its 60,000 sunflower plants.

Picking Patch, located on the A338 at Bickton, will open the gates to its three-acre site this coming weekend for people to walk among and pick some of their eight different varieties of sunflowers.

This is a new venture for Pumpkin Picking patch founders Niall Smith and Suzanne Hennekens’s who have branched out to bring some joy to people after the recent lockdown.

Niall said: “It’s like a painting from a Dutch master, a vibrant palate of yellows and oranges to warm the soul. Just half an hour will brighten your day.”

The sunflower patch, along with its sister project in Sompting near Brighton, will open on Saturday August 15 and Sunday August 16 and then from Wednesday August 19 until the end of the month.

The varieties of sunflower, including Sunrich Orange, Suntastic Yellow, Big Smile, Ring of Fire and Ruby Eclipse can be picked by anyone who books a timed session ticket online.

The ticket will also allow visitors access to the giant maize maze, spanning four acres with two kilometres of pathways measuring three meters in width to enable good social distancing.

Puzzle seekers will be able to tread their way to the centre of the tallest maize in the county, measuring over two and a half meters tall.

Patch founder Suzanne Hennekens said: “It has been a determination of ours to create a positive colourful and happy environment for families staying at home this summer, to step outside and enjoy some safe outdoors time together.”

Artists are welcome to come to the patch and set up their easels amongst the thousands of sunflowers, whilst plenty of crafts and tyre toys will provide entertain for children.

Visit https://pickingpatch.com/sunflower-picking to book your ticket for the patch.