Essex


<p>Somehow, despite the juice stains and paying-to-do-manual-labour, picking one’s own fruit, veg and flowers is unassailably charming. So dust off your broad-brimmed straw hat, grab a punnet and head to the fields because as luck would have it there are a fair few pick your own farms in Essex. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pick-our-own-farms-in-essex">Pick our own farms in Essex</h2>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mclauchlans-of-boxted-boxted-berries-colchester"><a aria-label="McLauchlans of Boxted (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.boxtedberries.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">McLauchlans of Boxted (Boxted Berries)</a>, Colchester</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="997" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/rasps-boxted.jpg" alt="Raspberries growing at Boxted Berries" class="wp-image-28826" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/rasps-boxted.jpg 997w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/rasps-boxted-800x535.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/rasps-boxted-768x514.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 997px) 100vw, 997px" /></figure>



<p>McLauchlans fruit farm (otherwise known at Boxted Barries), are old-hands at providing top-notch PYO. Check out the <a href="https://boxtedberries.com/whats-picking/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pickometer</a> before you go to see what&#8217;s picking well, whether that&#8217;s strawberries, blackcurrants, raspberries, redcurrants, gooseberries or broad beans. Sweetcorn pops up at the latter end of the summer – perfect pickings for the barbie. PYO in the midday sun is hot stuff, so treat yourself and your pint-sized pickers to homemade fresh fruit ice lollies or iced coffee from the gorgeously vintage The Wondering Blossom.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-coxs-at-spencer-s-farm-shop-halstead"><a aria-label="Spencer’s Farm Shop (opens in a new tab)" href="http://spencersfarmshop.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Coxs at Spencer’s Farm Shop</a>, Halstead</h2>



<p>This family-run farm has been offering PYO fruit since they first opened back in the 1970s, and they’re still one of the best places to get your fill of juicy berries.&nbsp;They’re particularly proud of their table-top strawberries, which are grown at waist height for ease of picking. While the littlies have fun in the play area or watching the goat&#8217;s trip trap across their bridge. Grab yourself something chilled at Carters Café, or pop into the farm shop to top up your fruit with some home-made fare and locally brewed beer to tuck into back at home! </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pork-lane-fruit-farm-frinton-on-sea"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/people/Pork-Lane-Fruit-Farm-Tea-Room/61558930854352/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Pork Lane Fruit Farm</a>, Frinton-on-Sea</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/strawberries-pork-lane.jpg" alt="Strawberries" class="wp-image-28825" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/strawberries-pork-lane.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/strawberries-pork-lane-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/strawberries-pork-lane-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/strawberries-pork-lane-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/strawberries-pork-lane-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>This small but perfectly formed farm packs a fruity punch when it comes to PYO – with a gorgeous orchard jam-packed with everything from plums, pears and almost 40 types of apples. This summer it&#8217;ll be the raspberries, then blackberries that see the action. They also press their own juice (you’re welcome to see the squishing in action), which they sell in their well-stocked farm shop, along with their own home-grown fruits, veg, cider vinegar (made out of those pressed apples), locally reared meats and big jars of honey.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cammas-hall-fruit-farm-hatfield-broad-oak"><a aria-label="Cammas Hall Fruit Farm (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.cammashall.co.uk/pyo/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cammas Hall Fruit Farm</a>, Hatfield Broad Oak</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="668" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/Cherries_cropped-copy.jpg" alt="Cherries growing at Cammas Hall Fruit Farm" class="wp-image-28827" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/Cherries_cropped-copy.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/Cherries_cropped-copy-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/Cherries_cropped-copy-768x513.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Nestled on the border of Essex and Herts, you can choose from a huge range of juicy specimens – just click <a aria-label="here (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.cammashall.co.uk/pyo/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a> to find out what’s ripe for the picking or what’s coming soon. Starting off with strawbs, there&#8217;s raspberries, blueberries, gooseberries, blackberries, blackcurrants, cherries, sweetcorn and sunflowers to follow. Stretch the day out with a stop at the Tea Barn for sarnies, sausage rolls and snacks, or on days it&#8217;s open, The Cabin, for BBQ and pizza.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lathcoats-farm-galleywood"><a aria-label="Lathcoats Farm (opens in a new tab)" href="http://eapples.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lathcoats Farm</a>,  Galleywood </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="999" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/lathcoats.jpg" alt="Strawberries in a punnet at Lathcoats Farm" class="wp-image-28828" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/lathcoats.jpg 999w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/lathcoats-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/lathcoats-768x513.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 999px) 100vw, 999px" /></figure>



<p>One of our fave pick your own farms in Essex, offering strawberries, raspberries, blackcurrants and some early plums, it’s usually a case of the early bird gets the best pickings, as this farm is hugely popular. Later on int he year there&#8217;s 50 apple varieties grown at the farm. Kick start your pickings with a freshly brewed coffee and homemade cake from their Bee Shed Coffee House. And, before you head home, their award-winning farm shop is also well worth a visit, while the little folk will want to say hello to the farm’s friendly residents, including alpacas and donkeys.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bloomfield-fruit-farm-chipping-ongar"><a aria-label="Bloomfield Fruit Farm (opens in a new tab)" href="http://facebook.com/BloomfieldFruitFarm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bloomfield Fruit Farm</a>, Chipping Ongar</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/plums-bloomfield-fruit-farm.jpg" alt="Plums at Bloomfield Fruit Farm" class="wp-image-28829" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/plums-bloomfield-fruit-farm.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/plums-bloomfield-fruit-farm-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/plums-bloomfield-fruit-farm-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>A sucker for juicy plums? Get ready to head to Bloomfield Fruit farm, at the end of July, when these fruits are just starting to come out. Nestled in this beautiful part of the Essex countryside, the farm’s super-friendly experts on all things plum related will happily talk you through the varieties available (a good dozen in the UK alone) and which ones make the best jams or chutneys. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-little-mountains-farm-maldon"><a href="https://www.littlemountainsfarm.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Little Mountains Farm (opens in a new tab)">Little Mountains Farm</a>, Maldon</h2>



<p>Situated in the heart of rural Essex, Dennis William Mann took over the farm in 1952 and it’s currently run by his two sons and grandson, so it’s very much a family affair. It’s also a mixed working farm, so don’t be surprised to see the odd turkey on your fruit-picking travels. With no booking needed, you can pop along and have your pick of their ripe and ready strawberries and raspberries (do check online for availability).</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-flower-fields-in-essex">Flower fields in Essex</h2>



<p>While Essex&#8217;s flower fields are not quite ready yet, it&#8217;s worth locking in date for when the flowers do start to bloom come July.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-writtle-sunflowers-chelmsford"><a href="https://www.writtlesunflowers.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Writtle Sunflowers</a>, Chelmsford</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="998" height="661" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/writtle-sunflowers.jpg" alt="Sunflowers growing at Writtle Sunflowers" class="wp-image-28830" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/writtle-sunflowers.jpg 998w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/writtle-sunflowers-800x530.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/writtle-sunflowers-768x509.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 998px) 100vw, 998px" /></figure>



<p>While the name suggests it&#8217;s all about the sunflowers here (and they are without doubt magnificent), there&#8217;s also an assortment of wildflowers to create your own bunch from. Just make sure you have enough vases for when you get them all home! There are refreshments available, and deckchairs so you can relax and enjoy your own picnic.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hatter-s-farm-bishop-stortford"><a href="https://hattersfarmpumpkins.co.uk/events/flower-fields" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hatter&#8217;s Farm</a>, Bishop Stortford</h2>



<p>There are photo opps a-plenty at Hatter&#8217;s Farm flower fields. Pick your own wild flowers, or buy a bunch, and let kids have a blooming fun time in the hale bale maze, bale mountain and maize maze. Toast marshmallows, or treat yourself after all that posing to a nice cold ice cream.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-finchingfield-lavender-finchingfield"><a href="https://www.finchingfieldcamping.co.uk/lavenderfarm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Finchingfield Lavender</a>, Finchingfield</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/finchingfield-lavender-copy.jpg" alt="Lavender field at Finchingfield Lavevender" class="wp-image-28831" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/finchingfield-lavender-copy.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/finchingfield-lavender-copy-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/finchingfield-lavender-copy-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Is there anything more wholesome and relaxing than wandering through lavender fields? We can&#8217;t think of anything! Pick from early July to mid August, the perfect time of year to enjoy one of the afternoon tea picnic boxes too. With the heady aroma that fills the air, you&#8217;ll be sure to sleep tonight!</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-in-the-mood-for-more">In the mood for more?</h2>



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The best pick your own farms in Essex

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