Incredible drone images show one of UK’s largest pumpkin farms that sells 25,000 every autumn

Farm began as a schoolboy's hobby seven years ago

Sabrina Barr
Wednesday 16 October 2019 06:52 EDT
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Spectacular drone footage shows one of largest pumpkin farms in UK which started when teen started growing them as a hobby

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Spectacular photographs captured by a drone show one of the UK’s biggest pumpkin farms, which boasts 100,000 visitors every autumn.

20-year-old James Maxey first starting growing pumpkins on his parents’ farm, which is located in Nottinghamshire, when he was 13 years.

What first began as a venture to earn extra pocket money by selling pumpkins to friends has, over the course of seven years, become a thriving business.

The pick-your-own pumpkin farm, which sells 25,000 every autumn, has since become one of the largest in the country.

“I started when I was 13 next to the farm shop with a little half-an-acre field with about 200 pumpkins in it, which I sold to my school friends,” says Mr Maxey.

A drone image of one of the largest pumpkin farm in the UK
A drone image of one of the largest pumpkin farm in the UK (SWNS)

“Every year I planted more and more and now I’ve about five or six acres.”

Mr Maxey explains that the farm offers around 20 different varieties of pumpkin for those preparing for their Halloween festivities.

“They are all different shapes, sizes, colours so it’s grown massively,” he states.

“We’ve done this for seven years and we’ve struggled to keep up with demand. It’s a very busy time for us and we’re delighted with how it’s grown.”

James Maxey first started selling pumpkins when he was 13 years old
James Maxey first started selling pumpkins when he was 13 years old (SWNS)
Selling the pumpkins to his friends as a teenager allowed him to earn extra pocket money
Selling the pumpkins to his friends as a teenager allowed him to earn extra pocket money (SWNS)

Mr Maxey describes one of the variations of pumpkin sold at the farm as “warty goblin”, as it is covered all over with warts.

For those looking for a more fairytale-esque pumpkin, they can pick up the “Cinderella carriage type ones”.

The success of the pumpkin farm resulted in Mr Maxey leaving school at 16 in order to run the business full time.

“I have always wanted to be out and could never sit in a classroom or anything,” he states.

Another shot captured by the drone above the pumpkin farm in Nottinghamshire
Another shot captured by the drone above the pumpkin farm in Nottinghamshire (SWNS)

In October last year, Poundland removed polystyrene pumpkins from sale for Halloween after receiving backlash over plastic pollution.

Several social media users expressed their outrage by sharing photographs of the artificial products online.

“Are you mad @poundland?? Selling polystyrene pumpkins to carve at home? Are you not aware of the environmental crisis that befalls us and our oceans!? Where do you think all that polystyrene will end up?” one person tweeted.

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