Harvest Hoedown!

The vegetables available will depend on what is ready to harvest when you visit. Farming is always affected by growing conditions and the weather, so the selection and quantity of produce cannot be guaranteed. Whatever is ready, children will have the opportunity to discover where their food comes from and experience harvesting vegetables straight from the field.

Yes, please bring a reusable “bag for life” to carry your harvested vegetables home. Your PYO vegetables are included in the ticket price, subject to availability, so there is no additional charge for the produce you pick as part of the experience.

Please wear outdoor shoes or wellies for visiting the fields, as the ground may be muddy or uneven. You will also need to bring a separate pair of clean indoor shoes for use inside the PLAY@ playbarn. Dressing for the Staffordshire weather and bringing waterproof layers is always a good idea!

Farmer and food writer Milly Fyfe, creator of No Fuss Meals for Busy Parents, has developed delicious, family-friendly recipe ideas using seasonal British produce. After your visit, you will be able to access the recipes online and turn your freshly picked harvest into simple meals at home.

Yes. Harvest Hoedown has been created as a fun and educational farm experience for families. Children can get hands-on in the fields, learn how vegetables grow, meet farm animals and discover more about British farming. There is also plenty of active play to enjoy throughout the rest of PLAY@ Lower Drayton Farm.

Harvest Hoedown is just one part of your PLAY@ adventure. Your ticket also includes access to the massive indoor playbarn, acres of outdoor adventure play and animal talks and interactions. It makes a packed, all-weather family day out in Staffordshire, with activities for children and grown-ups to enjoy together.

Yes. Vegetable picking and the farm trailer ride take place outdoors and may be affected by weather or ground conditions, but PLAY@ also has extensive indoor and undercover attractions. Families visiting from Birmingham, Wolverhampton and across the West Midlands can still enjoy hours of farm fun if the weather is changeable.

The farm trailer ride is weather and ground-condition dependent. As Lower Drayton Farm is a working farm, routes or activities may occasionally need to change to keep visitors safe and protect the fields and crops.

Absolutely. Harvest Hoedown gives children a first-hand introduction to farming, food production and the importance of the British harvest. During the experience, visitors will learn about the crops grown at Lower Drayton Farm, where they go after harvesting and how a wet spring followed by a hot, dry summer has affected the farm’s 2026 growing season.

The event celebrates seasonal British produce and helps families understand the journey food takes from field to fork. It also supports the values of British Food Fortnight, taking place from 26 September to 11 October 2026, by encouraging visitors to choose, cook and enjoy home-grown produce.

Yes. Lower Drayton Farm will be collecting non-perishable food items to donate to local food banks. Visitors are invited to bring a suitable item with them and help support people in need within the local community.

Harvest Hoedown offers much more than a traditional pick-your-own visit. Families travelling from Birmingham, Wolverhampton and elsewhere in the West Midlands can combine a hands-on farm harvest experience with indoor play, outdoor adventures and animal activities in one full day out. Lower Drayton Farm is conveniently located near Junction 13 of the M6, between Penkridge and Stafford.

Advance online booking is strongly recommended, particularly for weekend dates. Book your PLAY@ visit for one of the participating Harvest Hoedown dates to enjoy the seasonal farm experience alongside all the usual PLAY@ fun.