A family of five from Winterbourne are preparing to open their farm to the public for their third annual pick-your-own sunflowers patch.

Charlie Harvey, 33, and her husband Joseph Harvey, 39, run a farm in Pitton and for the last three years, they have been putting a lockdown dream into reality by creating a sunflower picking patch for members of the public to visit.

Charlie said: "It was a lockdown idea, we just thought it would be something really nice to do – it's really cost-effective to parents as children are free and adults are £6 each and you can take five stems back with you.

"We didn’t know if it was going to be a success or a complete flop but it completely took off. We were really nervous about having people on the farm but it’s just so rewarding, and it raises awareness of British farming. It’s quite an individual thing - it has that Mediterranean feel about it."

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Located in Pitton, just off London Road, PYO Sunflowers will run for two weeks, with three-time slots a day lasting three hours each. 

The date of opening is not yet confirmed, sunflowers are so weather-dependent the date changes each year. Updates will be posted on their social media page.

The sunflowers to admire (Image: Salisbury PYO Sunflowers)

Charlie added: "It’s just a really good day out for everyone. It just seems to work really well and it’s really accessible for people. For a lot of people, it’s not in a destination where you have lots of traffic.

"It’s something really different and people can spend quite a few hours down there."

Four different varieties of sunflowers to pick from are offered, with countless photography opportunities including a photography swing, viewing platform and sofa selfie point.

Charlie and Joseph's daughters on the patchCharlie and Joseph's daughters on the patch (Image: Salisbury PYO Sunflowers)

Also on offer will be cream teas, face painting, a nature walk and a picnic area, and money will be raised for Stars Appeal.

Charlie and Joseph's three girls aged three, seven and nine also enjoy lending a hand each year. 

Charlie said: "my daughter said this morning that she gets more excited about the sunflowers than she does about Christmas!"

To be the first to hear when the patch is open for 2024, visit their Facebook page.