The Portsmouth Pumpkin Patch opens for half-term

If you are planning your half-term around a pumpkin, the Portsmouth Pumpkin Patch is the one to build it on. It runs from Friday 23 October to Saturday 31 October at Lycroft Farm on Park Lane in Droxford, SO32 2QQ, which you can reach from Southampton, Fareham and Winchester via the A32 or the B3035. Sessions are split into a morning slot from 9:00 to 12:00 and an afternoon one from 12:00 to 15:00, so you can pick the time that suits you best.

Entry is £10 a person, with under-twos free, and there is no need to book in advance, which makes it easy to turn up on the day. Parking is free for ticket holders, so you will not be paying twice just to get through the gate. One thing worth knowing before you set off: dogs are not allowed on the farm, so if your four-legged friend is part of the family, this is not the day to bring them along.

What you get for that ten pounds is a lot more than just a pumpkin. The ticket covers entry to the patch, the pumpkin-carving shack, wand-making, potion-creation, the Strawbale Cinema, the Tractor Trackway, the Pumpkin Playground, Hay Bale Mountain, the Best Pumpkin Competition, the Most BOOtiful Halloween Costume Competition and a chance to meet the resident sheep. Between them, there is plenty to keep younger children busy while you sort out the pumpkin. If you want to go further, there are optional activities that you will need to book in advance: Witch Willowood's Marvellously Mischievous Pet Rescue, Wizard Willowdown's Broomstick Academy, pumpkin purchases, spooky face painting, food and warming refreshments and sheep food. Other things on offer include climbing Bale Mountain, casting spells in the Broomstick Academy, brewing magic in Witch Hazelwood's Potion Pantry, carving glowing pumpkins and catching a film at the Strawbale Cinema, alongside cheeky sheep encounters, magical wand-making, face painting and woodfired pizzas.

If you want to make a day of it and keep going, there are plenty of other pumpkin patches across the wider Portsmouth and Hampshire area. Sunnyfields Farm in Southampton runs from 3 to 31 October at £7.50 a person, under-twos free, opening daily from 14:30. The Rotherwick Patch in Hook has been going since 10 October with free entry and £5 parking per car, though you need to book. Durleighmarsh Farm Shop in Petersfield is free to enter from 17 to 31 October, and Fordingbridge has two options: the Pumpkin Picking Patch and Witchville on Ringwood Road, with no charge for picking and extra for the Witchville activities, and Pumpkin Pastures on selected dates from 17 to 31 October, also free and with no booking. Hampshire Pantry in Winchester runs on selected October dates with no entry fee and takes card, while Moneys Farm in Hook is free from 3 to 31 October with pick-your-own on 24, 25 and 31 October. Rogate Pumpkin Patch near Petersfield runs 16 October to 1 November at £10 a person, under-twos free. Hollam Nurseries in Fareham lists ad hoc dates from mid-October on Facebook with no entry fee, and Stoke Fruit Farm on Hayling Island puts out a display of pumpkins ready for Halloween. For a bit more, Fort Nelson on Portsdown Hill Road puts on free spooky half-term fun from 24 October to 1 November, 10:00 to 16:00, with a 'Creepy Codebreaker' museum trail and daily activities, though pre-booking is essential and parking is £3 a vehicle.