There's something about October that makes me want to embrace every autumn activity going. Pumpkin patches, crunchy leaves, oversized jumpers and dragging my husband along to whatever slightly ridiculous idea I've come up with next. Fortunately, Matt is usually a very good sport.
This weekend, we headed to Merrist Wood Pumpkin Patch in Surrey with friends for a morning of autumnal fun. Armed with a camera, plenty of enthusiasm and, somewhat inexplicably, a white bedsheet, we were ready to embrace all things October.
Did it live up to expectations? Well, yes and no. But did we have a brilliant time? Absolutely.
First Impressions
At £10 per person, Merrist Wood isn't necessarily the cheapest pumpkin patch experience in the area, particularly when you consider that there are other local options at lower price points.
I'll admit, I went in expecting a little more for the admission price, although I think that's partly because I've visited other pumpkin patches over the years and naturally find myself comparing experiences.
It's also worth mentioning that Merrist Wood is very much geared towards families with young children. Not exactly surprising for a pumpkin patch, I know, but something worth bearing in mind if you're visiting as a group of adults.
We arrived first thing in the morning, which turned out to be a very good decision. It was relatively quiet, giving us plenty of opportunity to explore, take photographs and enjoy ourselves before the crowds arrived.
The Pumpkin Patch Itself
Now, when I picture a pumpkin patch, I imagine rows of pumpkins growing across a field, with that slightly rustic, muddy, traditional farm feeling.
Merrist Wood wasn't quite that.
The pumpkins were laid out across the field rather than having the appearance of a traditional growing patch, which made the experience feel a little more curated than I'd expected.
That's not necessarily a bad thing. There were still plenty of opportunities for autumnal photographs, and I can imagine little ones having a wonderful time choosing their perfect pumpkin.
It just wasn't quite the pumpkin-picking experience I'd had in mind.
The Real Stars of the Show
Forget the pumpkins for a moment, because the petting zoo absolutely stole my heart.
First up, the baby goats. BABY GOATS.
They were only around a month old, and honestly, I could have happily spent the entire morning watching them. There's something completely ridiculous about how adorable baby goats are, and I make absolutely no apologies for the amount of excitement they caused.
Then there were the piglets, who were equally gorgeous, and the alpacas, who were just as lovely.
For me, this was easily one of the highlights of the visit. I love that the animal area adds something a little different to the usual pumpkin patch experience, and it's something I can imagine being particularly popular with families.
Although, let's be clear, the adults in our group were equally delighted.
The Ghost of Merrist Wood
Now, we need to discuss the bedsheet.
I'd seen the ghost photoshoot trend doing the rounds and decided that, naturally, we needed to recreate it. Which meant convincing Matt to put a white sheet over his head and wander around a pumpkin patch while I took photographs.
Romance is alive and well, ladies and gentlemen.
To his credit, he went along with it, and the resulting photos and general ridiculousness were easily some of my favourite moments from the day.
There's something particularly funny about trying to take an aesthetically pleasing autumn photograph while your husband is standing in a field looking like a low-budget Halloween decoration.
Honestly, the whole thing was hilarious, and it's exactly the sort of nonsense that makes a day out memorable.
Was It Worth £10?
This is where I'm a little torn.
We genuinely had a lovely time, but at £10 per person, I do think Merrist Wood feels a little expensive compared with some of the other pumpkin patches in the area.
That said, we didn't go on the tractor ride, which may well have added more to the experience and changed how we felt about the overall value for money.
I also think families with younger children would probably get more out of the visit than we did. There was clearly plenty of excitement among the little ones, and as we were leaving, the patch was becoming noticeably busier with children exploring.
For us, an hour felt about right. We'd enjoyed the animals, explored the pumpkin field and taken approximately a million photographs of Matt pretending to be a ghost.
Mission accomplished, really.
Final Thoughts
Would I recommend Merrist Wood Pumpkin Patch? I think it depends on what you're looking for.
If you're visiting with young children and want a family-friendly autumn outing, I can absolutely see the appeal, especially with the adorable animals and the opportunity to enjoy the tractor ride.
If you're after a more traditional pumpkin-picking experience, or you're visiting as adults without children, you might find the admission price a little harder to justify.
Would I return? Possibly, although I'd also be interested in exploring some of Surrey's other pumpkin patches next autumn.
Ultimately, we had a genuinely brilliant morning, and that's what I'll remember most. The baby goats, the laughter, spending time with good friends and my husband agreeing to yet another one of my questionable creative decisions.
Sometimes the best part of a day out isn't necessarily the attraction itself, but the people you spend it with.
And sometimes it's a grown man in a bedsheet.
Molly
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