IT’s spooky season again which means the return of the pumpkin.

But whilst this Halloween staple is readily available at supermarkets for pennies, a lot of families are choosing to pick their own at pumpkin patches.

In fact, a visit to a pumpkin patch has become the ‘thing to do’ this season, with many people making a whole day out of it and taking to Instagram to share photos of their stacked wheelbarrows.

So why is it so popular? A visit to one of Dorset’s top pumpkin patches revealed all.

Cat & Fiddle Farm, found off Lyndhurst Road in , has already welcomed in hundreds of pickers this season. Parking and entry to the patch is free, so visitors simply collect a wheelbarrow on arrival and get picking.

Bournemouth Echo: Cat and Fiddle FarmCat and Fiddle Farm (Image: NQ)

People typically spent around half an hour strolling the two large fields, before heading to the farm shop to get their pumpkins weighed.

Many then crashed at the on-site café for a warm hot chocolate or visited one of the mobile food stalls for a pizza or churros.

Such facilities seemed to go down a hit with visitors, with one woman saying it felt like a ‘whole day out.’

Another picker, Zoe Austin, said the farm had made a ‘real effort’ to create a pumpkin picking experience.

She had visited over the weekend with her partner and two daughters. She added: “Both my daughters are autistic, and this gives them the space and freedom to come and pick the pumpkins.

Bournemouth Echo: Zoe, Scott, Livie -Lou and Beanie AustinZoe, Scott, Livie -Lou and Beanie Austin (Image: nq)

“And it’s [my daughter] Beanie’s favourite time of year.

“It’s an amazing place, I think the whole atmosphere is amazing to be honest. They really make the effort here.”

Daniel, who works in the farm shop and helps to weigh out the pumpkins, suggested a number of reasons why the site is so popular.

He said: “It’s a family friendly activity, and it’s great because it’s free, with free parking and you only pay for what you pick.

“It’s something that can come a tradition for people, we see people bring their children, and get a new picture of them every year.”