
May 03, 2025
Where to go strawberry picking near you (and why seasonality matters)
There’s something about strawberries. Not the out of season, plastic wrapped ones that sit pale and hard on supermarket shelves in January, but the real ones. The ones that blush under the sun and smell sweet before you even bite into them. The kind you reach for with red-stained fingers and juice dripping down your wrists. The kind that taste of earth and heat and childhood. Right now, fields are filling with these ruby bright jewels, and we want to invite you into the rows. To pick your own. To kneel in soil, feel the sun on your back, and gather your fruit the old way, by hand, with patience and joy. Whether it’s a slow Saturday with the kids or a romantic afternoon walk with a basket in tow, strawberry picking is a love letter to the season itself. Why seasonality matters Seasonality is nature’s quiet rhythm, a cycle as ancient as the soil itself. It’s the way our ancestors ate for thousands of years: in sync with the land, the weather, and the slow shift of the sun. Today, we can eat strawberries in December and tomatoes in January, but just because we can doesn’t mean we should. It’s not just about better flavour (though truly, strawberries plucked warm from the field taste like sunlight itself). It’s about nutrient density, digestive alignment, and ecological balance. Fruits and vegetables grown in their natural season are more nutrient rich. When a plant grows in sync with its ideal climate and daylight hours, it doesn’t need artificial heat, chemical fertilisers, or long-haul transport. The result? Higher levels of key vitamins and minerals, better antioxidant profiles, and more beneficial plant compounds. Take strawberries in spring and early summer: • Vitamin C: vital for skin health, collagen synthesis, and immune support • Anthocyanins & Ellagic Acid: potent antioxidants with anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties • Fibre & Fructose: which, when eaten whole and in season, support blood sugar regulation and gut health And here’s something often overlooked: when you eat strawberries freshly picked, unwashed and raw, with the faint dusting of local soil still clinging to their skin, you’re also feeding your gut with naturally occurring environmental microbes. These microbes diversify the gut microbiome, supporting digestion, immunity, and even mental clarity. Eating seasonally also keeps us in tune with our metabolic and circadian rhythms. In spring and early summer, lighter fruits and vegetables naturally help cleanse the body after the heavier, warming foods of winter, aligning with the liver’s seasonal activity and our body's innate shift toward more energy and movement. But beyond biology, eating seasonally is a quiet rebellion against the industrial food system. It’s a gesture of reverence. A way of saying: I trust nature’s timing. Food is not just fuel. It’s a relationship. A living, changing thing, not a product, but a process. And when we choose to eat what the earth is offering now, we step back into that relationship with gratitude, humility, and joy. Where to go strawberry picking near you Before you head out, be sure to double check opening dates. Many of these farms begin offering strawberries in late May or early June depending on the weather. But we wanted to make sure you got first dibs. In the USA? Strawberry season’s in full swing coast to coast. Find your nearest pick-your-own patch at Pick your own then grab a basket and head out. Or if you’re UK, keep reading to find your specific farm below... South East England Crockford Bridge Farm (Addlestone, Surrey)One of the earliest openings in the country, Crockford’s strawberry fields begin blushing as early as May. After a slow morning in the rows, wander over to The Wilding Barn, the farm’s own shop and tearoom, where you’ll find homemade ice cream made with their own fruit from the farm. Maynards Fruit Farm (Ticehurst, East Sussex)Tucked into the wooded folds of the Weald, Maynards feels like the kind of place you stumble on by accident. Their fields roll gently across the hills, filled with jewel-bright strawberries and the buzz of bees. After picking, stop by their honesty stall for fresh cream and homemade jam. Parkside Farm (Enfield, North London)A secret garden within the M25, Parkside Farm offers a pause from the city’s pace. Rows of sun warmed strawberries stretch out and the air smells of green stems and ripening fruit. It's the perfect midweek escape, especially if you sneak in after school for a golden-hour wander. Lathcoats Farm (Chelmsford, Essex)A haven for heritage apple lovers and strawberry seekers alike. Walk down the gentle slope of the picking fields and let little hands choose berries still warm from the morning sun. Their farm shop bursts with raw honey and old-fashioned cordials. Stanhill Farm (Dartford, Kent)Just past the edge of the city, Stanhill offers a simple kind of magic. Book your strawberry slot, arrive early, and meander through soft earth with a basket on your arm. South West England Forde Abbey Fruit Farm (Chard, Somerset)In the shadow of the ancient abbey, this magical spot feels like a step back in time. After you’ve filled your basket, walk through wildflower meadows and find a shady tree for a picnic. It’s not just strawberry picking, it’s stepping into an English fairytale. Ansty PYO & Farm Shop (Wiltshire) Hidden in the Wiltshire hills, Ansty is the kind of place that doesn’t shout. No crowds, just quiet fields full of fruit, sky and a charming tea room. The kind of place where you lose time, find peace, and leave with mud on your knees and joy in your basket. They sell local milk, honey and cheeses and on Thursdays and Saturdays they bake their own sourdough. Midlands Scaddows Farm (Ticknall, Derbyshire)Set on a hilltop with sweeping views over green valleys, Scaddows is worth the trip for the scenery alone. But the strawberries, sun-drenched and headily sweet, are the stars. And of course, plenty of delights in their farm shop. Manor Farm Fruits (Tamworth, Staffordshire)Buzzing with energy and delight, Manor Farm is a celebration of the season. Ride the tractor out to the strawberry tunnels, then fill your hands, your basket, and likely your mouth. North of England Claremont Farm (Wirral, Merseyside)Strawberry picking here comes with sea air and estuary views. As you wander the rows, you might catch the call of curlews or the scent of wild thyme. Their farm shop is a dream: cheeses still sweating from the cave, hand-churned butter, and eggs with straw still clinging to their shells. Spilman’s Farm (Thirsk, North Yorkshire)Where Yorkshire countryside meets joyful chaos. Spilman’s is made for families. But even in the buzz, there’s beauty, ripe fruit glinting in the sun and long rows humming with midsummer life. The Balloon Tree Farmshop & Café (Gate Helmsley, York)With nearly 7km of strawberry rows, Balloon Tree is a northern jewel. Choose between varieties like Vibrant and Florence, then wander to the café for fresh scones and strawberry treats still warm from the oven. Kids can dash between ride-on tractors and the bakery window, where fruit-filled cakes rise like magic. Bentley Grange Farm (Huddersfield, West Yorkshire)Set in idylic West Yorkshire countryside where the Moorhouse family have farmed since 1889. Different generations have adapted their skills to a wide range of agricultural activities including growing soft fruit which began in the late 70s. Now one of the only places in the area to offer pick your own fruit, it continues to provide a range of soft fruit grown to the highest standards. In the end, the strawberries are only part of the story. The real magic is the slowness. The smell of sun-warmed fruit. The joy of eating something you picked with your own hands. The laughter of sticky fingers and the quiet satisfaction of a day spent outside. Know a hidden gem we missed? If there’s a local strawberry field you love, we’d love to hear about it. Pop it in the comments and help someone else discover the magic in their own backyard.