Strawberry Picking

There's something genuinely special about picking your own strawberries straight from the plant. It's one of those simple pleasures that never really gets old – the smell of warm fruit in the sunshine, the kids darting between the rows, and that moment when you bite into one and it actually tastes like a strawberry should. None of that supermarket stuff can touch it. At Libby's Patch, we grow our strawberries right here on the farm in Gawsworth, and when the season's in full swing, it's a brilliant way to spend a few hours outdoors with the family.

We usually open for strawberry picking in early summer, and it tends to run for several weeks depending on how the season goes – the weather has a big say in things on a working farm, as you can imagine. That's part of what makes it feel so real. You're not visiting a theme park or a set-piece attraction; you're coming to an actual farm where the growing conditions, the soil, and the sunshine all play their part. We'll always keep our website and social media updated so you know when picking is on, and it's worth checking before you set off.

It's a brilliant day out for all ages, honestly. Little ones love the treasure-hunt feeling of spotting the reddest, ripest berries hiding under the leaves, and there's no rush – you can take your time, fill your punnet, and enjoy just being outside in the Cheshire countryside. Families come from across Macclesfield, South Manchester and beyond to make an afternoon of it, and it's the kind of thing that tends to become a bit of a yearly tradition once you've done it once.

When you're done picking, you'll take home fruit that's as fresh as it gets – picked by your own hands, hours old at most. Whether you're planning to eat them straight away, make jam, bake a pavlova, or just pile them onto some vanilla ice cream, they'll taste far better than anything you'd find on a shelf. Come and see us at Libby's Patch when strawberry season rolls around – we'd love to see you out in the field.