10 ideas of things you can do with your conkers and where to find pumpkins in Norfolk.
This blog was first published in 2018, but it’s so great, we thought you’d like to see it again! If there are any new places to pick your own pumpkins, do let us know.
Thanks to fantastic Mumbler, Anna who gave us her top 10 conker-ific ideas…
1. Play the traditional game of conkers we all remember from our childhood!
2. Make a conker snake or caterpillar. As well as been great fun these are also a great way of helping children with their number bonds to 10 as they can move the conkers up and down on the string.
Either skewer or drill a hole in the conkers, children can then use their fine motor skills threading the conkers on the string. One thing to note conkers are hard to stick things to so I would recommend the eyes that have peel back stickers or super glue.
3. Practice counting with conkers. We got out the numicon and the eldest mini mumbler helped the youngest with his number practice. They also sorted the conkers into a line from the smallest to largest and the eldest practised counting in 2s and 5s with conkers. They both had great fun with the conkers and didn’t realise it had an underlying maths focus!
4. Paint with conkers. This is a bit like marble painting but with conkers! We got a baking tray put a sheet of paper in the bottom squirted different colours of paint in the tray and rolled the conkers around to make pretty conker pictures!
5. Conker games. Why not add a bit of fun into some traditional games with the use of conkers. e.g. Conker & Spoon race, Conker Boules, place an object like a large stone and see who can get their conker the closest.
6. Conker puppet family. Act out one of your favourite stories with conker puppets.
7. Conker decorating. In the case of my two, decorating conkers was like decorating eggs at Easter – see how much glitter they can get on the conkers and themselves!!! There are lots of ways to decorate conkers and suitable for all ages, you could also try conker printing with flat conkers.
8. Fend off spiders. Its the time of year when spiders make an appearance, apparently placing conkers around the house on windowsills keeps the spiders away.
9. Conker jewellery. Drill holes in the conkers and you can make a necklace or bracelet.
10. Make conker animals. Let your child’s imagination run wild, get out the craft box, playdough or use other autumnal materials like acorns, leaves sticks and make your favourite conker animal.
Thanks, Anna!
Pumpkin PYO starts Saturday October 11th 2019. Closed on Mondays. There is a farm shop on site packed with goodies, dogs are welcome on leads. Pumpkins are individually priced.
(Please note: on the White House Farm website, it still says the PYO is closed until 2020. I can confirm that it is definitely OPEN from October 11th 2019)
Hill Farm, Norwich Road, Horstead NR12 7BA
A family run farm shop offering fresh seasonal grown fruit and vegetables, picked daily. CASH ONLY. Open Monday to Friday 8.30am to 4pm. Weekend opening hours are Saturday 8.30-12.30 and closed Sundays. Contact 01603 737359.
Pumpkins available in October and individually priced. For those looking to make their PYO outing extra special, Perfect Pose Photography will be there from 10am to 2pm on Sunday, October 20 and there is no need to book.
The Grange, Rollesby, NR29 5AJ. Farm shop and PYO field. The shop is open for PYO Pumpkins every weekend from the beginning of October from 10am to 4pm and daily from 19th October 2019. Pumpkins individually priced. Also a farm shop open daily from 9am to 6pm with great local produce. Contact 01493 740236.
Algy’s Farm Shop, Bintree, Norfolk
Bintree, Dereham, NR20 5NE. Bintree has a pumpkin patch next to the farm shop where you can go and pick your own from 1st October 2019. Algy’s is also known for its popcorn! Contact 01362 683893.
From October 19 to 27 (11am to 3pm) there will also be wood-fired pizza available whilst you pick your own pumpkins, with a choice of margherita, pepperoni or Hawaiian, which cost £7.50 each.
Old Hall Farm, Norwich Road, NR35 2LP Woodton, Norfolk
PYO Pumpkins from 19th October 2019 at 10am. £5 per car regardless of the number of occupants which gains you entry to the farm, the farm trail, and a pumpkin of your choice. Additional pumpkins from the patch will be available to purchase as well.
The café will be open from 9am-5pm, and we will have a BBQ running as well. No dogs. Pushchair accessible.
Come and “hang out” at the Junior Farm Pumpkin Festival this half-term. There’s lots of HALLOWEEN FUN to be had for all your little gory ghosties and wicked witches so come dressed to impress and let’s “get into the spirit”.
Choose your pumpkin from our Pumpkin Patch, load into one of our little wheelbarrows and head into the undercover carving barn where our team of carvers will be on hand to help carve your spooky creation to take away your very own Jack O’ Lantern. Book online in advance to GUARANTEE your child’s pumpkin. Tickets include all day entrance to Junior Farm and all its animal activities too.
The Pumpkin House is decorated with over 1,000 pumpkins and handmade out of wood. Visitors walk through a wooded trail decorated with pumpkins and scarecrows to reach the pumpkin house. Photographs can be taken inside the house and you can choose your perfect Jack o lantern from the Pumpkin House shelves. Opens 19th October at 10am, free to visit, pumpkins individually priced. Free parking. No dogs on site please as it’s a working farm. Only cash or cheques.
