12,500-acre organic farm growing thousands of pumpkins for inaugural Halloween celebrations

THERE are some ghostly growings on at Rhug Estate!

The 12,500-acre organic farm estate, based near Corwen in North Wales, is busy producing thousands of pumpkins in time for a spectacular Halloween celebration.

Visitors will be able to pick their own organic pumpkin and enjoy a series of ghoulish attractions and activities, including an inclusive and accessible ‘spooky tunnel’ under the A5.

There will also be refreshments, games, and lots of frightening fun for all the family.

Farm Estate Manager Emyr Owen, from Llanrwst, says they planted pumpkin seeds in a 1.5-hectare block on-site and they are growing nicely.

“The dry weather didn’t help at first, but a period of rain has reversed that and now the process is well underway,” said Emyr.

“They are growing naturally with no artificial pesticides, herbicides, or fertilisers, completely organic and the majority will be Jack-o-lantern and decorative types.

“We’ve used precision machinery and planted in an area which is usually part of the crop-rotation so it’s exciting to see how things develop over the coming weeks into the autumn.

“This is the first time we’ve ever tried this so it’s going to be a lot of fun for children especially to come and pick their own pumpkin and take part in the spirited celebrations we’ll be having over the course of the Halloween period.”

Rhug Estate owner Lord Newborough added: “We hope to see lots of people visiting the Estate and enjoying the scariest time of year with us! It’s another event that will appeal to our local community and further afield.

“I’m sure it will be a big success and we will look to make it an annual event.”

The event will run from Saturday October 21 to Tuesday October 31.