This weekend we discovered fruit-picking – I can’t believe we have never done this before! It was soooo much fun. This is definitely a toddler approved activity! I got the idea after seeing so many summer blog posts on fruit-picking around the country. And I had always seen this sign for ‘Copas Farm’ whenever we drove home – so we checked it out.
There’s actually two farms under the Copas Farm name, one in Cookham and one in Iver. Iver is the one we visited. It’s about a 10 minute drive from Slough town centre, off the Uxbridge Road and a little further up the same road as Langley Country Park on Billet Lane. It’s a narrow country road, but you know you’re there as it’s clearly signposted and there’s a big grass car park.
We entered though the giant hut and were greeted by a lovely young girl explaining how it works at Copas Farm and what fruit and veg were available to pick. The entrance free was £3 per person, including little people, [EDIT: Now £4 per person and you have to book a timeslot online before your visit] but when you pay for the fruit and veg you pick, the entrance fee is taken off the total. We picked up 3 little punnets and set off into the fields.
For me, I was entranced – it was a real life Farmville! Remember that facebook game we were all addicted to like 6 years ago? Rows and rows of vegetables! Tyler kept running off squealing with laughter, he was soooo excited! Here he is picking little courguettes. He’s obsessed with cucumbers, and as these were real look-a-likes, he was was so careful carrying around his ‘cumumbers’ in his little basket! We also picked some broad beans and french beans from the next rows.
We also picked one of these unusual looking pumpkins – they were bright yellow! And one gooseberry as I have no idea what you do with them.
Then we picked raspberries, which Tyler thought were strawberries. Well they do look alike too!
He was a little tired after this, so we had a sit-down on the grass, watching some planes in the sky, before setting off again!
There were beetroots in front of us, and then some grass that had strawberries growing out of it. They were really really ripe, so they must have been leftovers from the last month. We walked across to the next section. I thought it was just leaves, but my husband informed my that these were peas! Peas in a pod – duh! There’s me thinking they only come in frozen peas bags 😉
We had a wander through the cherry trees before heading back to the shop to pay.
This is what we picked – french beans, a pumpkin, peas, raspberries, strawberries from the grass, courgeuttes, broad beans and one gooseberry.
It was 5pm closing time, so there was a little queue to pay. While my husband queued up, I had a look around. They have a cafe and picnic tables outside, and in the store they sell more fruit, veg, cakes and jars of honey and hot sauce.
We didn’t have to pay for what we picked as our entrance fee covered it – woohoo! At home, I prepped it all and made a random curry, served with peri peri chicken. And you know what, it tasted good!
We will definitely be visiting again, this was such a fun activity. And they tell me they’ll have strawberries, plums and sweetcorn next week!
If you fancy visiting Copas ‘Pick Your Own’ Farm, they are open May – September, so be quick, we’ve only got August and September left for picking!
Copas Farm: Calves Lane Farm, Billet Lane, Iver, Bucks SL0 0LU
Open: Tues – Thurs 10am – 6pm, Fri – Sat 10am – 5pm, Sun 10am – 1pm
Last entry 1 hour before closing time (May – September)
Tel: 01753 652727 (24 hour information line – worth calling to find out what produce is available to pick)
Raspberry and blueberry picking have always been favorites of my kids’. Except sometimes we need to weigh them on the way in and again on the way out so I know how much I actually owe for the fruit!
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Ooh blueberries, that’s a nice one to pick. Haha, are you little ones eating them there?! Funny! x
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We’ve yet to take the kids fruit picking, we keep seeing local strawberry picking though so must do it!! #twinklytuesday
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I’m glad it’s not just me who hadn’t done it yet! I’m so glad we finally went, it was so much fun. Do it! x
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We have just been doing this too, So I haven’t found somewhere close to us with as many things growing, You have a lovely selection here and what you made looks absolutely delicious. Do pop over and join me for country kids Is all about outdoor fun and it looks as if you’ve had plenty of that here. Stopping by from #TwinklyTuesday
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They did have a great selection at Copas Farm, but I’m sure Tyler would be happy picking anything! And it was fun cooking it all too. I’ll definitely check out your blog, we do like outdoor activities 🙂 x
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Fruit picking with kids is always a good activity. Your little dude looks like he is loving it. My daughter loves doing this too even if it’s a hard work to make her eat what she picked. lol xx #toddlerapprovedtuesday
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I had never done it before, but just to see how happy Tyler was picking the veg, it was amazing! I’m lucky, Tyler has always liked his greens – strange boy haha! x
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I can’t believe I still haven’t taken A fruit picking, I’ve never even been myself! Definitely going to before Summers out! #toddlerapprovedtuesday
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Glad it’s not just me who hadn’t been before! I’m so glad we did, it was so much fun! Do it! x
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Looks like you had a great time fruit & veg picking and nice to cook with such fresh produce. Think we’re going to run out of time this summer to go but will definitely put on the list to do next summer. #toddlerapprovedtuesday
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It really was fun! And thinking up a recipe to cook with what we picked was fun too! I know, time is running out – I wish we had been earlier, although we’re lucky it’s close to where we live. Hopefully can pop down again this year! xx
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Looks like you had great fun! We love picking our own too. I am often surprised at the other activities that can be on offer at these places too. Sometimes there are things like animals to pet or nature trails etc. Looks great what you picked 🙂 Thanks for sharing #TwinklyTuesday
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Yes we really enjoyed it! I love discovering new places, especially when they’re close to where you live! x
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Sounds like a lovely day! We used to go strawberry and raspberry picking every year as children and always loved it. #ToddlerApprovedTuesday
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It was lovely, especially with the sun out. Will definitely try to make this a regular activity! x
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What a fun day! I will have to do my research as to a place around here for picking fruit! #toddlerapprovedtuesday
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It really was! Yes, have a look online, you never know what’s near you. I have discovered so many new places lately! x
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This looks so fab! I have seen lots of people on facebook doing this. I really should take Zach because I think he would love it. Think we have a couple of places nearby so I’ll have to research! Thanks so much for linking up with #TwinklyTuesday
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Yes do take him, he will love it! You never know what might be in your area too xx
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Oh wow it sounds like they had a great selection there! I’m still yet to visit a PYO farm this year, Elliot has been a few times though with my parents and he’s normally eaten most of the pickings on the way round! #toddlerapprovedtuesday xx
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Yes it was really good! That’s great your parents took Elliot. I had a rant at my mum saying, why did you never take us?? She was like, I didn’t know! Haha, we took some sweeties with us so he was eating them instead – phew! xx
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We went fruit picking this week and it was lovely. Don’t you think it all tastes so much better when you’ve picked it yourself? I will be trying to squeeze in another visit before the end of the summer! #TwinklyTuesday 💗 Noah & the Girls
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It’s great fun isn’t it! And yes it tasted so fresh after I cooked it, I was well impressed. We’re going to try another visit before September too xx
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I’ve still never managed to take the monsters strawberry picking, we keep saying we will go and then something happens (usually bad weather!) and we have to cancel. We do really want to try and get before the end of the summer so here to crossing your fingers!!!
Thanks for linking up to #ToddlerApprovedTuesday
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Haha – the monsters! It’s true, it’s very weather dependant. Fingers crossed to more sunny days! xx
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I remember Farmville! I had to ban myself from it as it was just sooo addictive! This looks like a lovely day out.. I saw an advert for a pick your own farm near us and it’s on my to-visit-list! I found you via the #LoveWhereILive link 🙂 x
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Haha, I know, Farmville was so addictive! Even on our honeymoon, I was so worried my crops were going to die! It was fab doing it in real life, I really recommend it! xx
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Aw looks like you had a great time, and I love places which do veg as well as fruit 🙂 Look forward to hearing about your other adventures xx #Whatevertheweather
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It was great, and yes picking veg was a bonus and much more useful for cooking with! x
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We discovered fruit picking a few weeks ago and absolutely loved it!! Looks as though you will be going back again soon!! #LoveWhereILive
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It’s so much fun isn’t it! Yes we’ll be visiting again, it’s so close to where we live, thank goodness 🙂 x
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Ooh, it looks delicious! I love it when you can pick veg as well. We planted yellow squashes too, but nothing much has grown well with the weather this year. Great pics of what you made with your pickings too! 🙂 x
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It was delicious, it really tasted different cooking with fresh veg! Wow you’re brave planting your own, I am never successful haha! xx
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Yay I’m glad you finally got to go 😀 It looks like you all really loved it. When we went there were only strawberries available, I wish we got to pick lots of vegetables as well. It’s a really great way to teach where food comes from isn’t it. Thank you so much for linking this up to #whatevertheweather xx
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Yes! I’m so glad you inspired us to go, I’ve never had so much fun before! It was great they had so much choice at our one, it really was a lesson in what they all look like as plants – I learnt so much! xx
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