Autumn is upon us and the spooky season is nearly in full swing. 

And as Halloween approaches, one Darlington farm has enjoyed a bumper pumpkin crop ripe for the picking. 

Baydale Pumpkin Patch on Coniscliffe Road has grown ten varieties of pumpkins of all shapes and sizes ready to be picked by kids and adults alike. 

The Northern Echo: Baydale Pumpkin Patch opens today, pictured some of its first visitors Archie Walker 4, Joey

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Established in 2021, Baydale Pumpkin Patch, a pick-your-own pumpkin patch located near the Broken Scar beauty spot, is now a staple of the Halloween season in Darlington.

The farm has now opened its doors for the 2023 season; so here's everything you need to know ahead of picking your own pumpkins.

The Northern Echo: Baydale Pumpkin Patch opens today, pictured owner Simon Walton

The farm boasts a great variety of pumpkins, from traditional orange facers, to the tiny white casperitas and super tasty Crown Prince winter squashes.

Keen visitors can pick their pumpkins day or night; for a daytime session, there's no need to book, just turn up during opening times. However, the farm's "dusk to darkness" evening sessions have to be prebooked. 

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The Northern Echo: Baydale Pumpkin Patch opens today, pictured owner Simon Walton

There's no entrance fee to the farm, with pumpkin prices starting from £2. 

Visitors have been "respectfully asked" by farm management to leave their pets at home, as "not everyone likes dogs."

There are toilets on site, and the farm is hopeful that a catering company will be on the patch on most days, and have asked visitors to check social media channels for up-to-date information regarding this.

The Northern Echo: Baydale Pumpkin Patch opens today, pictured one of its first visitors Archie Walker 4

Here are the opening times: 

  • Friday, October 6 - 12noon - 4pm
  • Saturday, October 7 - 10am - 4pm 
  • Sunday,  October 8 - 10 am - 4pm 

 

  • Thursday, October 12 -  12noon - 4pm
  • Friday, October 13 -  12noon - 4pm
  • Saturday, October1 4 -  10am - 4pm 
  • Sunday,  October 15 -  10am - 4pm 

 

 

  • Thursday,  October 19 -  12noon - 4pm
  • Friday, October 20 -  12noon - 4pm
  • Saturday, October 21 -  10am - 4pm 
  • Sunday,  October 22 -  10am - 4pm 

 

  • Wednesday, October 25 -  12noon - 4pm
  • Thursday, October 26 -  12noon - 4pm
  • Friday,  October 27 -  12noon - 4pm
  • Saturday,  October 28 -  10am - 4pm 
  • Sunday, October 29 -  10am - 4pm 

 

  • Monday, October 30 -  12noon - 4pm
  • Tuesday, October 31 -  12noon - 4pm

The Northern Echo: Baydale Pumpkin Patch opens today, pictured one of its first visitors Joey Simpson 3

A spokesperson added: "Please note, our opening times will be subject to pumpkin stocks. If we run out we may have to close early, but we will update our social media channels regularly with up-to-date information."