This October Youth Activity Group did something a little different. We headed to Lower Drayton Farm to explore the Pumpkin fields, pick some prize specimens, try our hand at carving and enjoy some spooky fun.

We were booked in at 6.30pm; as the sun set on the animatronic dinosaurs, volunteers Tracey and Nia, 20 young people and their tag-along adult companions went in search of the perfect pumpkin.

It was a little muddy, a little grubby, and a lot of fun. Our members pushed their barrows around a field filled with multi-coloured vegetables until they found ‘their’ pumpkin. Then it was off to the carving barn (via the food truck) to see how those pumpkins could be transformed.

There were a few expeditions to the Haunted Walks by some brave young people (shout out to the young man who did the grown-ups haunted walk eleventy billion times, loving every minute!)

A special “thank you” to the guy who decided to wait for Tracey around the corner of the supposedly ‘tame’ children’s walk and scare her into shrieking (I’m looking at you, Eli!)

Back in the carving barn the atmosphere was very relaxed and workmanlike. The pumpkins were taking shape and there were some amazing designs - from sharp teeth, howling faces, paw prints and cats on the moon, we loved seeing them all! This was overseen by the purple witch who kept her eye on things and made sure everyone was well-equipped with gloves, buckets and soapy water!

We have to admire the parents and carers who trudged over muddy fields, flexed their muscles whilst scooping, hacking, and stabbing, and let their young people take all of the credit. They insisted they were having a lovely evening but Tracey and Nia kept well away from the sharp Implements…

Many thanks to Lower Drayton Farm, always wonderful when we visit, inclusive, accepting and so very kind to us. We keep going back for a reason.