Overview
- Pumpkin Patch Ipswich announced it had shut its autumn event early after vandals smashed pumpkins and damaged or stole decorations, a decision owners made public on Thursday.
- Growers at The Pumpkin Patch in East Bergholt said around 200 pumpkins were deliberately broken over several days and described the damage as heartbreaking after months of planting and care.
- Hatter’s Farm and other Essex and Suffolk sites have issued public pleas for visitors to stop smashing pumpkins and to report destructive behaviour when it is seen.
- Suffolk Constabulary said deliberately damaging pumpkins could amount to criminal damage and asked people to report incidents, noting that unsold pumpkins remain farm property until purchased.
- Producers warn the losses hit small, family-run businesses hard because pumpkins require months of labour and the season is short, and some owners say they still hope to reopen next year despite the setback.