Fruit Picking 2023: Where to pick your own strawberries and other berries in the West Midlands

From Birmingham and beyond - the West Midlands has so many pick-your-own places offering strawberries and other berries -  it’s the perfect summer holiday family activity.
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The pick-your-own (PYO) fruit season has begun early in the UK, as a result of all the bouts of warm weather we’ve been having.

Strawberries are in season at the moment, and will be through to September, so heading to your local fruit farm will be the ideal Summer holiday, family activity.

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This is also one of the best times to go fruit picking, if you enjoy fresh raspberries and gooseberries, as they’re also in season from mid-June.

Fruit picking can be a lovely afternoon spent out in the sunshine, with many PYO fruit farms popping up across the West Midlands, you can choose which offers the fruits of your choice - whether it be raspberries, strawberries, gooseberries or cherries.

Many of these locations also offer cafes, farms-shops, butchers and delis, so that you can enjoy a relaxing break, and try other locally sourced produce.

Here are some pick-your-own fruit farms within the West Midlands, which offer a variety of fruit, so the whole family can get hands-on with harvesting some fresh, juicy healthy snacks.

1. Caldicott’s Nursery, in Solihull

50 Lovelace Avenue, Solihull, B91 3JR

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This small, family-run nursery has been in business for almost 100 years and over three generations of the same family. Originally an apple orchard with livestock, the nursery has evolved over the years, into growing flowers in greenhouses, and fruit in the fields.

Fruit picking for the Summer is set to start from mid-June, with strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, blackcurrants, red currants, tayberries, and blackberries - all available to pick.

There is no booking required, you can just go along to Caldicott’s Nursery, pick up punnets or baskets and afterwards the fruit will be weighed, and you will then pay for the weight packed.

Members of the public picking their own strawberries (Photo by AFP via Getty Images)Members of the public picking their own strawberries (Photo by AFP via Getty Images)
Members of the public picking their own strawberries (Photo by AFP via Getty Images)

There is a £5 fruit picking minimum per basket, and typically most people tend to spend £5 to £15, depending on how much they pick. The nursery does not have a card machine, so if you intend to PYO, remember to take cash along, to pay for your fruit.

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Call them ( 0121-705-3168 / 0121-705-1747 ) to see what is ripening at the moment - each year is a little different from every other year.

2. Manor Farm Fruits, in Tamworth

Watling Street, Hints, Tamworth, B78 3DF

The farm has been owned and run by the Clarke family for the last three generations, and is one of Staffordshire’s longest established soft fruit growers. Their PYO fields will be opening for the 2023 season at 10am on Thursday, 18th May 2023 and they are celebrating their 50th year in 2023.

Due to the unpredictable weather, they are going to open online bookings for just 3 days to start with, allowing them to check how the crop is ripening and to ensure that they always have enough delicious strawberries available for everyone to pick.

So, initially, they are going to open for Thursday 18th, Friday 19th and Saturday 20th May. All bookings this year will be online again, and this is a unique opportunity to get the very first strawberries of the season.

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As well as picking your own fruit, you can also have a full afternoon out when visiting Manor Farm Fruits. As there’s a snack shack serving drinks, snacks and ice-cream, with outdoor seating to relax and enjoy the views of Staffordshire. There is also the strawberry cabin tea room and restaurant, if you would prefer to stop for some lunch.

Initially, they just have strawberries available for picking and ready picked rhubarb, followed by gooseberries, raspberries, red and blackcurrants, blueberries and blackberries. You can bring your own containers as well.

Admission to their PYO fields this year will be as follows (plus a £1.50 booking fee):Adults £2.00Children (1 – 12) £3.50 – includes unlimited time in the play areaChildren (Under 1) FREEAdult Carers FREE (1 Carer per individual with additional needs)

3. Essington Fruit Farm, in Wolverhampton

Bognop Road, Essington, Wolverhampton, WV112AZ

Essington Farm is a family business run by the Simkin family who have farmed in Essington since 1892, retailing quality produce from their farm since that date.

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The farm offers a huge 50-acre site where you can pick your own fruits and vegetables. It is currently open to PYO strawberries, and soon you can also go along and pick raspberries, gooseberries, blueberries, blackcurrants, rhubarb, blackberries, and plums.

On site there is also a farm shop, butcher and deli, as well as a restaurant and kitchen - so you can make an afternoon of it. The restaurant also serves its popular afternoon tea and Sunday lunch.

To PYO fruit at Essington Fruit Farm, you must book a time slot on their website. However, they are not open for 2023 season yet.

PYO strawberries at Malt Kiln FarmPYO strawberries at Malt Kiln Farm
PYO strawberries at Malt Kiln Farm

4. Malt Kiln Farm, in Coventry

Stretton-under-Fosse, near Coventry, CV23 0PE

Malt Kiln Farm Shop is a family run farming business in the midst of the Warwickshire countryside.

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The farm shop is surrounded by fields, and during the Summer you can pick your own strawberries and raspberries, as well as a wide variety of other soft fruit and vegetables.

Malt Kiln Farm in Coventry is opening for PYO strawberries in mid June 2023. They have a variety of crops that they open for pick your own across the summer months these include the following fruit crops rhubarb (June), strawberries (mid June), gooseberries (mid June), raspberries (late June), blackcurrants (early July), redcurrants (early July) and blackberries (early August).

They also grow a number of vegetable and flower crops for pyo: broad beans (late June), courgettes (mid July), runner beans (late July), marrows (late July), sunflowers (late July), squash (August), sweet corn (mid August) and pumpkins (late September).

Whilst at the Malt Kiln Farm Shop, you can also stop for breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea at Rebecca’s Kitchen.

5. Stanleys Farm Shop, near Kidderminster

Fishers Castle Farm, Harvington, Kidderminster DY10 4NF

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This 250-acre family run farm, is based in the Worcestershire countryside, and has 25 acres designated for PYO seasonal produce.

Stanleys Farm currently has Tunnel Strawberries available, through until August, this will be followed by blackcurrant and raspberries from July, and damsons (plums) from August.

The Stanleys Farm Shop also sells fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as snacks and treats from independent producers, including Two Farmers crisps, Frank’s Biscuits and Nom salted caramel pots.

There is no booking required, you can just go along to Stanleys Farm Shop, pick what is available, and then pay for what you pick based on the weight. They have a great range of berries and vegetables to pick (see ‘Ready to Pick’ for full list).

Pick-your-own fresh strawberries - in season now, until SeptemberPick-your-own fresh strawberries - in season now, until September
Pick-your-own fresh strawberries - in season now, until September

6. Canalside Farm, in Stafford

Mill Lane, Great Haywood, Stafford, ST18 0RQ

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Canalside is a family run farm that has been growing its own produce for the past 38 years. Since then, they have provided soft summer fruits, vegetables and garden plants directly to businesses across the region.

The farm currently produces over 40 tonnes of strawberries, raspberries and blackberries per season. Strawberries are now ready to pick at the Canalside Farm, and will be followed with raspberries and blackberries in July, and August. The pick-your-own farm is open everyday from 10am to 4pm.

Canalside also has a farm shop, with a butcher and an artisan bakery, as well as a deli selling locally sourced produce.

If that is not enough, you could also stop off for a bite to eat at the coffee shop, which sells sandwiches, hot pastries and afternoon tea. You can also join them for their Open Farm Sunday on June 11, or one of their many workshops.

There is no booking required, you can just go along to Canalside Farm, pick what is available, and then pay for what you pick based on the weight. However, contact them ahead to set a date.

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