Strawberry Sundays at Hatton Farm Village

Farm village manager Richard Craddock said that Hatton’s famous ‘summer sundae’ free strawberries event is on schedule to run for three weekends from mid-June onwards, giving children the chance to pick a free punnet of strawberries from a special four-acre patch as part of their entry ticket.

Mr Craddock said: “So successful was the scheme last year that we’ve planted an extra acre and a half, taking our total strawberry acreage to almost four.

“We’re hoping to welcome many more children than last year’s total of over 6,000, so we will need more strawberries to ripen in the coming weeks.

“The crop is looking very good at the moment. Although I can’t make any promises, given how weather-dependent natural crops can be, I am hoping for a bumper crop this year. T

“he May sunshine came at just the right time for us.

“Of course, one of the real benefits of this scheme is that it helps children to see where their food comes from.

“Many children have never seen strawberries growing on the land; they believe they come wrapped in polythene tubs on supermarket shelves, so it’s a new experience for them to be able to pick the fruit direct from the plant.

“And I believe that our strawberries grown in soil taste much better than those grown commercially in large greenhouses. Our traditional methods of raising the plants, the selection of plant species we use and the ripening effects of this sunshine ensure an exceptional flavour which children love.”

As strawberries need sunshine to ripen, the actual availability of the weekends may vary, so visitors are advised to call 843411 or visit the website www.hattonworld.com to check before before travelling.