Shropshire pumpkin patch sees 3,000 visitors in one day

Farmer Joe Hamer said seasonal events had become so vital to his fortunes, he considered himself more of an agritourism operator

A pumpkin patch has reported its busiest year, with 3,000 visitors in a single day as Halloween approached.

Arscott Farm in Shropshire said money from seasonal events such as pumpkin picking kept the business ticking over.

Pumpkin patches have seen an increase in popularity over the years, thanks to social media.

"Last weekend I had a queue [of people] waiting for wheelbarrows - we've got 120 wheelbarrows here," Joe Hamer said of the demand at his farm near Hanwood.

The farm's pumpkin patch saw 3,000 visitors on one day

Mr Hamer said the farm's fortunes were often "feast or famine", making seasonal events vital.

He explained: "We have months and months of money then we have nothing until we can harvest the strawberries."

As well as pumpkin-picking in autumn and strawberry-picking in summer, the farm offers Christmas trees in winter.

"I would class myself more as agritourism now than a farmer," Mr Hamer said.

The pumpkin patch is not the farm's only season venture

Other farms around the country have also reported that social media prompts an influx of people for pumpkins.

"We've got to change with the times," Mr Hamer said.

He added the mud did not put people off either, with many white trainers being found discarded in the car park.