Are you looking for the best sunflowers field locations in the North West for 2024? If you are a fan of these bright and cheerful flowers, you’re in for a treat!
Its that time of year again, when everyone’s Instagram and social media channels become flooded with gorgeous sunflowers field pictures. Fields of beautiful sunflowers are just coming into bloom with many farms releasing their dates for visitors.
Many of these sunflower fields are set up to raise money for charity – something that mainly started in 2020 and carried on for the past couple of years.
Sadly, a couple of the North West’s places to see sunflowers are not open this summer but there are still plenty of places to go if you want a sunflower patch or sunflower field. Many sunflower patches have opened later than usual in 2024 due to adverse weather conditions during the spring/summer.
About this post:
These are the farms that have declared that they have a beautiful sunflower field to visit for 2024. I will keep an eye on any other sunflower patches that open throughout the summer but as always, if you know of one I have missed, please let me know and I will update. I will also keep this post updated each summer.
In cases of bad weather, you may find that some sunflower maze or patches close for the day. I would advise always checking the farm facebook page or ringing in advance to check the exact dates and times they are open.
So here is your guide to the best sunflower fields in the North West:
When are sunflowers at their best?
UK Sunflower season is typically in August when they will be in full bloom and is the perfect time to see acres of sunflowers. They tend to start flowering in late July (but sometimes as early as mid July) but will be at the their best from early August until late August. They should still be gorgeous in early September but occasionally some varieties of sunflowers can last until late September.
What to take to a sunflower patch
- Wellies or Walking Boots – You may have noticed that it hasn’t stopped raining this summer. Even if you drop on and visit on a sunny day, you can almost guarantee that you will be wading through a muddy field.
- Plastic sheeting for your car boot – The aftermath of that muddy field will not be pretty when you get back to your car. A lot of the sunflower patches offer a service where u-cut sunflowers to take home so also useful to preserve the interior of your car.
- Secateurs/ Own clippers – Those stalks can be thick! If you are buying and cutting your own sunflowers, you will need to be prepared that scissors just won’t cut it.
- Camera – Bit obvious, but don’t miss that photo opportunity amongst acres of sunflower fields.
How to take good photos in a Sunflowers Field
Most places will have specific areas where you can take photos. They will have cultivated their sunflower experience so you get good colourful shots of the flowers.
Do not just wade into a wild sunflowers field – You are likely to get an irate farmer coming after you for ruining their crop.
This is where your selfie stick comes in handy – These are the best way to get the height over the flowers and get the sunflower heads in shot. Sunflowers can easily grow between 6 and 10 feet high. This isn’t professional photography advice, just tips I’ve picked up along the way.
What to wear to a sunflower field?
For the best pictures, wear something light coloured (but not yellow) like white or cream. Avoid heavy patterns. Also, avoid green as you may merge into the stalks.
Best time of day to get good photos of sunflowers?
Early in the morning or as late in the afternoon as possible. You want to avoid harsh sunshine overhead (hardly a problem this summer!)
Cloudy days are also good for natural light and allowing the brightness of the sunflowers field to shine.
How long will cut sunflowers last for?
They should last between 6 to 10 days once cut. If you are cutting your own, look for the flowers that look like they are just starting to open. Also go for the sunflowers that have good, strong stems and are as straight as possible to avoid the flower bending over.
Roby Mill Farm Shop
Johnsons Farm, Lafford Ln, Up Holland, Skelmersdale WN8 0QY
Roby Mill Farm Shop on Facebook
Sunflower Patch Opening Hours
Opens mid August 10am – 4pm then every day that the farm shop is usually open while the sunflowers field lasts until late summer.
Tuesday – Saturday 9am – 5pm
Sunday 10am – 4pm
Closed Mondays
What they offer?
No booking needed.
Entry to the patch is £1 per person, Sunflowers are £1 per stem or 6 stems for £5.
Please bring along your own secateurs to cut the sunflowers with, limited amount of secateurs to purchase in the farm shop if you forget to bring some.
Cash and cards accepted.
Dogs are allowed into our Sunflower Patch but they must be kept on a lead at all times. Please clean up after your dog.
Photo opportunities are dotted around the field so that you can take lots of pictures so make sure to bring along a camera or phone!
Brooks Gelato also available to buy.
Lots of parking on site!
Dunham Massey Ice Cream Farm
https://www.dunhammasseyicecream.com
Dunham Massey Ice Cream Facebook
34 Station Rd, Dunham Massey, Altrincham WA14 5SG
what3words: ///iceberg.homecare.spells
Note: This is NOT Dunham Massey Hall and Gardens – They are situated in the village of Dunham Massey
Sunflower Trail Opening Hours
Open now for 2024! The field will be open from 10am and then everyday until early September (or maybe longer!)
It’s open until 5:00pm with last entry at 4:00pm.
What they offer?
No booking required.
Sunflower Trail with animal scavenger hunt for young children.
Send in your pictures of the trail to the Dunham Massey Ice Cream Farm Facebook or Instagram and they feature some of them on their socials.
Sunflower flavoured ice-cream available!
Pick your own sunflowers.
Wildflowers and plenty of photo opportunities.
£4 for Adults and £3 for Children (no admission fee for babies in arms).
Cafe available for lunch.
The Hayloft
https://www.facebook.com/TheHayloftCheshire
Sandy Lane, Widnes, Cheshire
What3Words ///cornering.successes.masterful
Sunflower Trail Opening Hours
Open now for 2024 – Typically open 10am until 4.30pm (occasionally closes earlier so please check with the venue before setting out). Evening sessions held periodically.
Coffee Shop and Ice Cream Counter available.
Kids play area. Den building shed.Sports field. Pedal tractors all free!
£5/person entry to the sunflower field kids under 2 go free
PYO sunflowers £1.50 per stem or 5 stems for £6
Miniature railway to and from the sunflower field
Bretherton Sunflowers
Longfold Farm, North Road, Bretherton, Leyland PR26 9AY
https://www.facebook.com/brethertonsunflowers
Sunflower Field Opening Hours
Open Saturday 17th August 2024. 7 days per week for at least 3 weeks – 11am – 8pm. No booking ahead necessary.
£1 admission fee. £1 per stem or £5 for 6 sunflowers.
Pick your own sunflowers available.
Bring your own secateurs or available to buy at the farm shop.
What they offer?
Often has food vendors – For example Peaky Grinders coffee and Feisty Cow ice cream vans. Plus JJ Events Bar serving Gin and Prosecco.
FREE parking. Toilet facilities available.
Professional photographers offering mini photo shoots available to book from Hill Cross Photography – Visit website to find out dates available and make a booking.
Wildflower paths will also be present to add a special touch to your sunflower shots.
Dogs welcome.
Location: what3words ///messy.fluffed.volume
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George and Clemmie’s Farm
Lower Shorrock Hey Farm, Meins Road, Pleasington, Lancashire. BB2 6QU.
07873 138217
georgeandclemmiesfarm@outlook.com
https://www.facebook.com/GeorgeandClemmiesFarmPleasington/
Sunflower Field Opening Hours
Hoping to open late August 2024 through to the end of September – Will close on days when the weather is bad.
Typically open 11am – 5pm but check their Facebook on the day you hope to visit.
What do they offer?
A working farm with a family feel, really geared to children.
Picnic benches are available for people bringing their own picnics.
Artisan ice-cream available to buy.
Pick your own sunflowers.
Sunflowers and Wildflower bouquets available to buy online.
Helen is a family and lifestyle blogger, writing about her experiences of bringing up 3 girls. For more information about the Costello Family and the services they can offer visit the Work With Us page
Kenyon Hall Farm
Winwick Lane, Croft, Warrington, WA3 7ED
https://www.kenyonhall.co.uk/sunflowers.html
Sunflower Experience Opening Hours
Details to be released soon.
Tickets for newsletter subscribers will be available to buy from the Kenyon Hall website
Last year tickets sold out very quickly.
What they offer?
Maize Maze also available. Tickets available from their website.
Good farm market stocked with homemade pies, quiches, arancini and scotch eggs plus lots more. Selection of homemade cheesecakes also available.
Pick your own strawberries also available – Booking available on the website.
Crewe Green
Crewe Green, United Kingdom, CW1 5UP
07891 342568
Sunflower Trail Opening Hours
NOW OPEN for 2024. Open 7 days 9am – 9pm except Sundays which opens at 10am. They say that the sunflowers field stays open until it goes dark so great opportunity to see the sunset.
Tends to close during bad weather.
What is on offer at Crewe Green?
Outdoor seating available.
Craft workshops also available in the Craft Tent. See Facebook page to exact details.
£10 per car admission price which includes a free sunflower Pick Your Own bunch.
£5 for additional sunflowers bunches via an honesty box.
Bring your own secateurs but limited number available to buy.
Picnics welcome.
Observation Bee Hive – Meet the Bees available while weather permits.
Great Budworth Ice Cream Farm
New Westage Farm, Heath Lane, Great Budworth, CW9 6ND
01606 891211
https://www.icecreamfarm.co.uk
Sunflower Field Opening Hours
Open from Saturday 17th August 12.30 till 4.30pm. Flowers just starting to bloom.
What does Great Budworth Offer?
Sunflower Maize Trail with a puzzle to work out.
Admission fee applies to the maze area only this includes a prize for each child on completion of the worksheet.
Adults/Over 14s £2.00
Children 4+ £3.00 (includes worksheet and prize)
Under 4s £1.00 (includes prize)
Animals, including new pygmy goats available.
Ice Cream availablee (as the name suggests!)
Benty Farm Tearooms
3a (off) School Lane, Thurstaston, CH61 0HH
0151 648 2746
https://www.facebook.com/bftearoom
https://www.bentyfarmtearooms.co.uk
charlotte@bentyfarmtearooms.co.uk
Sunflower Field Opening Hours
10am – 4pm Wednesday to Sunday. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
What does Benty Farm offer?
No booking needed, just turn up.
No dogs allowed in the sunflower patch.
Send a message via Benty farm Tearooms Facebook page or email for more information about the sunflowers field.
Pick your own strawberries and raspberries also available.
Cash or card accepted.
Windmill Farm
Windmill Animal Farm, Fish Lane, Burscough, Lancashire L40 1UQ
01704 892282
hello@windmillanimalfarm.co.uk
https://www.windmillanimalfarm.co.uk
Sunflower Field Opening Hours
No details declared for 2024 – please check directly with the venue before setting out. Typically open daily, 7 days per week 10am -5pm.
What does Windmill Farm offer?
Shortlisted for Lancashire’s “Visitor Attraction Of The Year Award 2023”
This is a great place for younger children when you want to incorporate an amazing sunflowers field with a great farm day out.
15% discount on subsequent visits when you collect a Welcome Card on arrival.
Booking available online – Adults/16+ £14.95, Children 1-15 £15.95 (Under 1s free), OAP/Carers £12.95.
Indoor and Outdoor Play area available.
Cafe available.
Farm animals and animal petting available. Watch lamb feeding three times per day.
Farm train available for rides and Ice Cream Lodge.
Maize Maze with Sunflower garden adjacent.
Farmer Ted’s Sunflower Tedventure
Farmer Ted’s Adventure Farm, Flatman’s Lane, Downholland, Ormskirk, Lancashire, L39 7HW
0151 526 0002
Farmer Ted’s Opening Hours
No details of opening dates declared yet for 2024. Please check directly with the venue before setting out.
Hours of opening typically – 10 -5.30pm Friday to Wednesday
10 – 6pm Thursdays
What do Farmer Ted’s Offer?
A fun family farm day out for younger children. The UK’s only Shaun the Sheep farm attraction
Over 1 million sunflowers so miles of sunflowers!
Last year the Sunflower Maze took approx 30-35 to complete. Plenty of photo ops as you process through the maze.
Described as the “biggest, most challenging maze we have ever made perfect for people who love a good challenge!”
2 adults, 2 children (under 13) £70 for all day tickets.(Maze entry included in day admission)
Jurassic Park special event for 2023
Indoor play area available.
Tractor Barrel rides available.
Is it easy to grow your own sunflowers?
Yes! The best time to plant them is March – May, after the last frost has gone.
They take between 80 – 120 days to grow and develop sunflower seeds.
You may want to use slug repellent as sunflowers as prone to slug damage.
If you are really lucky perennial sunflowers may regrow the following year without any additional work from you. Other varieties of sunflowers will need reseeding.
You may also enjoy these other posts about places to go in the North West
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Summer Holiday Activities
If you are looking for other ways to occupy the family during the summer, Jen at The Mad House shares her FREE Summer Holiday Planner.
You may also be interested in visiting some family friendly festivals over summer. Colette at Going On An Adventure has all the details for you.
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Wow! I didn’t realise there were so many sunflower fields in the North West! So much choice too – some of the places offer enough activities to make it a full day trip out which is an awesome summer activity idea! Thank you for all the info, certainly makes it easier to choose where to visit! Sim x