Pumpkin growers across the region have had a scare this Halloween after recording the worst crops in living memory.
Producers have reported 20 per cent lower yields than last year after months of cold and wet weather.
David Bowman, the biggest pumpkin supplier in Europe, said his Spalding firm had seen buyers “almost begging” for pumpkins.
He said: “It probably is the worst harvest we have ever had. We have had one or two bad years in the past, but never for this long.
“It has been a struggle to get them planted and a struggle to get them ripened. We are keeping our fingers crossed that some will ripen for the weekend.
“Many smaller growers seem to have lost their entire crops. We have had people coming to us almost begging for pumpkins, but our major customers have to come first.
“The weather has just been too cold and too miserable for us.”
Despite the potential lack of pumpkins, there will be plenty of ghostly goings on this Halloween in Peterborough.
The city market will be opening later this weekend, to take advantage of the dark evenings, with a series of games and activities taking place.
Ed Cullum, chairman of the Peterborough Market Traders Federation said: “We want to encourage families to come down to the market to have some fun while doing their shopping.
“The traders will be getting dressed up in spooky costumes, and there will be Halloween decorations up around the market.
“We will be playing Halloween themed music and sound effects, and there will be games and prizes for children.
“We will be opening from 8.30am until 6pm, rather than closing at 4pm.”
And Sacrewell Farm is also gearing up for ghoulish fun this half term, with a number of activities taking place.
There will be three ‘fright nights’ for families, taking place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday this week. On the nights families will be given a tractor ride through the farm, before being dropped off at the “Enchanted Forest”, and left to walk back to the farm along a “haunted track”.
There will be other activties taking place at the farm between October 27 and November 4.
Safety warnings for Halloween
Police and fire officers have issued their customary safety warnings ahead of this year’s Halloween festivities.
Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue has issued a series of safety tips as people prepare their hollowed out pumpkins, such as never leaving candles unattended while they are lit, and placing them in a draught-free area away from curtains, furniture and other flammable surfaces.
Meanwhile police have designed a new poster for homes which do not want “trick or treating” on their doorsteps. It can be downloaded from www.cambs.police.uk or by calling 101.
Comments